Michelle Payne to race in front of Queen at Ascot
MELBOURNE Cup-winning jockey Michelle Payne is racing royalty in Australia, but now she’s ready to get a taste of the real thing at Ascot in June.
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MICHELLE Payne is destined for a date with the Queen in June.
The Melbourne Cup winning jockey will ride a star Italian horse at the famous Royal Ascot meeting before taking over its training for the Melbourne spring carnival.
The horse, Kaspersky, will be trained through the English summer by Payne’s friend, leading UK trainer Jane Chapple-Hyam, and will be set for the Queen Anne Stakes over the Ascot carnival, which is attended by Queen Elizabeth and other members of the Royal family.
Payne has virtually hung up the race saddle in recent months and has not ridden a feature winner since her win aboard 100-1 chance Prince Of Penzance in the 2015 Melbourne Cup.
Kaspersky was recently purchased by Australian businessman Ernest Clarke and his wife Ronda for a six figure sum.
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The Clarkes met Payne at a breakfast function some months ago, telling the jockey they had been inspired by her Cup win to purchase their first racehorse on the proviso Payne rode and eventually trained it.
Payne is likely to ride the stallion when it begins its Royal Ascot campaign in a 1600m race at Ascot on May 3. It may then run in Deauville in France before returning to Ascot for the Royal meeting, from June 20.
The Queen Anne is regarded as one of the meeting’s premier races. In 2012 it was won in spectacular fashion by Frankel, regarded as the greatest European horse of all-time.
“It’s an unbelievable opportunity,’’ 30-year-old Payne said today.
“I’m looking forward to both riding and training the horse. To think I might be riding at Royal Ascot is incredible.’’
Payne said Kaspersky, a multiple Group 2 winner, was “a very serious horse.’’ She said she is also hoping to soon purchase a Melbourne Cup contender in Europe.
“I’ve watched a few of his (Kaspersky) videos. He’s a strong on the pace sort of horse who I’m hoping will measure up both here for a race like the Emirates Stakes (1600m) during Cup Week and also in Europe.’’
Payne’s riding career stagnated after her Cup triumph as distractions and commitments of fame took her away from the racetrack and as she embarked on a dual training and riding career.
She has had just 12 race rides since January and has ridden only 12 winners in the last year.
“I’m very fit and very focused,’’ she said.
“I ride 10 of my own horses each morning and I’m a very confident person. I now have a target and I know I will be able to reach it.’’
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