Michelle Payne flaunts daring emerald green Melbourne Cup look

Michelle Payne, the first and only female jockey to win the Melbourne Cup, has turned heads in a bold shortcut dress.

Michelle Payne, the first and only female jockey to win the Melbourne Cup, has stepped out in a bold, emerald green look at today’s festivities.

The racing royalty, who is one of this year’s official Victoria Racing Club (VRC) ambassadors, opted for a striking backless halter-neck dress, with just a hint of sideboob.

Her dress features a statement ruffled hem that she’s paired with a unique halo headpiece.

The 36-year-old traded her riding boots for a pair of best-selling Lana Wilkinson heels – which Wilkinson told news.com.au were designed to be worn all day at spring racing events without hurting the wearer’s feet.

Michelle Payne steps out at the Melbourne Cup. Picture: Vince Caligiuri/Getty Images

She opted for a striking backless halter-neck dress. Picture: Vince Caligiuri/Getty Images

Michelle Payne and James Winks. Picture: Vince Caligiuri/Getty Images

Payne posed with fellow jockey James Winks, who looked dapper in a grey three-piece suit.

Payne rose to both national and international prominence with her history-making 2015 Cup win. The second-youngest of 10 siblings, her incredible life story was immortalised on the silver screen in 2019’s Ride Like a Girl.

“It changed my life in a second and I was not prepared for it at all. I trained my whole life to achieve my ultimate dream of winning the Melbourne Cup. But [I was] never prepared for what would happen after,” she told Stellar last month.

Payne after winning the 2015 Melbourne Cup riding Prince of Penzance. Picture: George Salpigtidis

“I joke to my friends that part of my punishment for winning the Melbourne Cup was that I now have to deal with people all the time, and I like my own time. Part of my punishment was the limelight that came with it.”

Her appearance at the Cup also comes after she recently weighed in on animal rights activists and critics increased calls to ban horse racing.

“If they saw these horses every day, they’d see how well cared for and happy they are,” she told Stellar.

“They are treated like kings. I look after my horses better than I look after myself.

“It’s disappointing when people say it’s cruel. I know that’s their perception but if they really knew what was going on behind the scenes they wouldn’t think that.”