Melbourne Cup 2020: Jamie Kah and her barrier draw ‘omen’

The race’s only female jockey is one of the favourites with the punters – and a big chance to win on Tuesday.

Jamie Kah and Prince of Arran will start from barrier one in the 2020 Melbourne Cup on Tuesday. Picture: Alex Coppel.

If there’s an omen bet for punters looking for a Melbourne Cup winner, it has to be Jamie Kah.

The only female jockey in Tuesday’s big race, 24-year-old Kah is in the form of her life having ridden plenty of spring racing carnival winners ­already.

For those looking for a sign, Kah and her horse Prince of Arran will start from barrier one at Flemington on Tuesday — the same spot Michelle Payne ­famously won from in 2015 aboard Prince of Penzance.

Payne became the first woman in Cup history to win, but there’s some big differences this year. Prince of Penzance was a 100-1 outsider, whereas Kah’s Prince of Arran is among the handful of top favourites, having placed third and second in the past two Cups.

Five years ago, 101,015 spectators were thrilled by Payne’s win. On Tuesday, Kah will compete in her first Melbourne Cup at an empty Flemington — a scenario she admits will be strange.

“It will be very different. It will be hard, being the first Melbourne Cup I’ve ridden in and not having my family and friends at Flemington. I’ve had a lot of support and I’m sure that will continue. I know my parents will be over in Adelaide cheering me on. I miss the ­atmosphere on race day at the moment, and I’m sure I’ll miss it most on Cup day.”

Payne and Kah spoke at the weekend about the “amazing coincidence” of the barrier draw, Payne said on Racing.com. “She’s riding so well … and she’s really been able to get some great experience over the past few months and years that have her ready for the challenge,” she said.

“I’m just feeling for her because I know what those nerves feel like in the days and hours leading into it, it’s a dream come true to be in a Melbourne Cup.”

Kah, the daughter of Olympic speed skaters John and Karen Kah, said her main memory of the Cup growing up in South Australia was her school stopping to watch the big race.

She left high school halfway through 2011 to become an apprentice jockey and within two years had won the Adelaide jockeys’ premiership. After a break in 2015, she won two more premierships there before shifting to Melbourne in January this year.

Kah admits to some dis­appointment for missing out on the usual Cup week festivities, but public interest in her story means she is aware of the anticipation around the race.

“The build-up is normally incredible and I’ve always wanted to be part of the parade, to see people fill the streets and come out and support the participants.

“Nowhere else in the world puts on a show like Melbourne for the Cup. On the flip side though, I’ll appreciate having some quiet time the day before. It’s the biggest race of the year and I want to make sure I’m well prepared.”

Her story has resonated with punters. Prince of Arran was always going to be popular, given its Cup record, but it is the fifth-best backed horse with digital bookmaker Sportsbet. “With Jamie Kah going in the saddle, who is riding above a win strike rate of 20 per cent over the last four months, (it) will be extremely popular for punters,” Sportsbet’s Richard Hummerston said .