Katelyn Mallyon looking for her own slice of history in Tuesday’s Melbourne Cup

With horseracing blood flowing through her veins, Katelyn Mallyon is looking to add to her families sporting history in Tuesday’s Melbourne Cup.

With horseracing blood flowing through her veins, Katelyn Mallyon is looking to add to her families sporting history in Tuesday’s Melbourne Cup. Photo: Adam Smith.

FOR Katelyn Mallyon it’s never been a boys versus girls thing.

It was only ever about wanting to be a jockey, and like all jockeys, to win the Melbourne Cup.

Twelve months on from Michelle Payne’s historic Cup win on Prince of Penzance, Mallyon is getting her first crack at it.

The granddaughter of three-time Caulfield Cup winning hoop Mick Mallyon, and brother of fellow jockeys Andrew and Jordan, Katelyn, 22, will ride Assign in Tuesday’s great race.

She will be flying the flag for the females this year, given Payne, after a near career-ending fall in Mildura this year, doesn’t have a ride.

But as excited as Mallyon is to be getting her maiden Cup start, she’s only flying the flag for Assign’s owner Lloyd Williams, for herself, and for her family.

“I’ve never, ever felt the girl/issue ever,” Mallyon told the Herald Sun this week.

Kate Mallyon will be flying the flag for the females this year’s great race. Picture : Colleen Petch.

“I’ve come out of my apprenticeship, outridden my claim, which is hard to do (Payne is the only other female jockey to do so), and I’ve gone straight in to the top level and proved I am good enough, and everyone knows that. I have never struggled with that issue.

“I get asked about it a lot and I don’t know what to say about it.

“Michelle is a lot older than me too, so she started when it probably was hard, I’m not too sure. I was still in school. I’ve never really felt it, but I have only been riding for five years.”

Within those five years Mallyon twice won the Victorian Apprentices premiership, the second time, in 2014, after a fall that put her in a coma. She’s the first female rider to win the title twice.

Mallyon secured the Cup ride on Assign, a $51 Cup chance with TAB, after piloting the six-year-old gelding to victory in the Herbert Power Stakes at Caulfield on October 2.

Payne has picked up three rides at Flemington on Tuesday and if the pair cross paths, there’s a chance Mallyon will sneak in a quick question or two.

But if they don’t Mallyon, with 237 race wins in her career to date, is pretty confident she knows what to do when the gates open.

“I’m pretty sure I have it covered,” she said.

“I’m a pretty relaxed person and it’s another race, but I can’t wait to get out there.

“I’m confident I can get the job done.”