Melbourne Cup-winning jockey Michelle Payne to ride at Royal Randwick meeting in December

MELBOURNE Cup-winning jockey Michelle Payne will head to Sydney next month to ride at the Royal Randwick meeting on December 5.

Race 4, The Hilton Hotels & Resorts Stakes, won by Palentino ridden by Michelle Payne . EmiratesStakes15 Picture: Jay Town

MELBOURNE Cup-winning jockey Michelle Payne will head to Sydney next month to ride at the Royal Randwick meeting on December 5.

Payne has been in demand since her stirring victory aboard the Darren Weir-trained Prince Of Penzance in the race that stops a nation earlier this month.

First it was a post-Melbourne Cup function the day after her historic win where she needed a helicopter flight to make it in time for the Kyneton Cup that afternoon. Then it was hundreds of fans turning out at the Ballarat Town Hall to give the Ballarat-born Payne and trainer Weir a rousing reception.

Then just last week Payne was octagon-side seats for the UFC fight between Ronda Rousey and Holly Holm.

Now Payne, along with her brother Stevie — the strapper Prince Of Penzance — have been invited to Sydney’s racing headquarters as part of a promotion the Australian Turf Club has been targeting since the first Tuesday of November.

“We’re thrilled to have the first female jockey to win the Melbourne Cup, Michelle Payne, to ride at Randwick just four weeks after her historic win,” ATC spokesman Brett de Vine said.

“It was a magical ride from Michelle to win the Cup and the story behind her win is just as captivating.”

It was Stevie Payne’s first Melbourne Cup on the job after working at Darren Weir’s stable for almost a decade. Just 24 hours before the great race Stevie quipped “she’ll be in front with 200m to go hopefully”.

He was spot on with Michelle bursting to the lead on Prince Of Penzance inside the final furlong before holding off a determined Max Dynamite with world-class jockey Frankie Dettori in the saddle.

Stevie has Down syndrome and his role in Michelle’s Melbourne Cup victory can only provide inspiration to others that anyone can enjoy the greatest of accomplishments.

Female jockeys Australia-wide have reported an increase in the number of rides they are getting since Payne’s famous win in the $6.2 million race.

“What Michelle has done for not only women in racing but the sport as a whole has been very positive,” de Vine said.

“We want Michelle and Stevie to be among the Sydney racing public with their trophies and share this great story.”

Racing is one of the few sports where men and women compete on a completely level playing field.

“She beat the boys fair and square. How many other sports do we see men and women compete against each other?

“We’re honoured to have Michelle come to Sydney and share her Cup win on the day with photos and autographs.” day is set to be a cracker.”

For tickets to Royal Randwick’s December 5 meeting go to www.theraces.com.au