Michelle Payne, jockey & trainer, 33: Q&A

Jockey Michelle Payne on losing her privacy, becoming ruthless and her dream of becoming a nurse.

Feisty: Michelle Payne. Picture: Josh Robenstone

You made history four years ago as the first female jockey to win the Melbourne Cup. How did it change your life? I lost my privacy, which was quite hard to accept at the start. All of a sudden you’re stopped in the street; it was a shock. And a film being made about it has been quite overwhelming but I’m learning to enjoy it, rather than focusing on how crazy it is.

How did director Rachel Griffiths approach you about making Ride Like a Girl? A month after the Cup my brother Stevie and I were at Randwick getting photos with everyone; Rachel lined up for about an hour, then sidled up beside me and said, “I’d love to make your movie... it’s one of the best stories I could tell.” Later, we sat down to talk about it. I felt she really wanted to make a heartfelt movie about a family and a dream and perseverance. I got a really great vibe from her.

How involved were you in the production? I didn’t want to interfere too much, but there have been some tragedies in my family and I didn’t want it to be too hard for them to watch. The filmmakers were very sensitive about that. They didn’t put in my mother’s death [in a car crash] – that would have been very hard for my brothers and sisters. I was too young [at six months old] to remember but they all still remember it as clear as day.

It does depict your sister Brigid’s death in 2007 after a fall... I told my family if they wanted to see the film before the premiere they were welcome to, because it’s quite confronting, especially Brigie’s death. I’ve seen it four times and it gets me every time.

How did Stevie, who has Down syndrome, end up playing himself? He’s a rare person, and after the filmmakers had spent some time with him they decided, “No one can play Stevie like Stevie can.” He’s the absolute star – he will steal the show.

After the Cup win you famously said that anyone who thinks women aren’t good enough “can get stuffed”. Are all the Paynes feisty? Look, we’re survivors [laughs]... when you have to survive you become a bit selfish and maybe a little bit ruthless. After years of dealing with the crap, it was time to stand up and say something. You have to stick up for yourself.

You had a few things to say about chauvinism in racing; have things improved? It’s progressing... a bit slower than we’d like, but over the past 10 years there have been more female jockeys getting opportunities and making the most of them. It’s helped people to see that riding isn’t all about strength. There is so much more to riding a horse than that.

Including having a close relationship with your horse, which is unusual, right? From my perspective it seems pretty clear it’s an advantage – but in Australian racing culture, to keep one rider on one horse the whole time has been pretty rare.

How’s life as a trainer at Nottingham Farm, your stables in Ballarat? We have about 20 horses on 40 acres that Stevie and I bought a couple of years before the Cup. It was my dream – something to look forward to when I retired from riding.

Any more dreams to fulfil? Maybe setting up a gym. I’ve also toyed with being a nurse – to give back after all the times I’ve been in hospital and people have helped me through. But I’m not sure how I’m going to find the time for that!

Ride Like a Girl is in cinemas from September 26