Michelle Payne's ride into racing history

When Michelle Payne rode Prince Of Penzance to victory in the 2015 Melbourne Cup, history was made, and not just because she became the first woman to win Australia’s most famous race. At 100- 1, the underestimated gelding and the trailblazing jockey delivered one of the Cup’s greatest upsets. It was a triumph of belief, preparation, grit, and the start of something far bigger.

Payne grew up in a racing family. The youngest of ten children, she was raised by her father, Paddy, after her mother’s death when Michelle was just six months old. Nearly all of her siblings became jockeys or worked in racing in some way, and she had her first ride in a race at just 15.

Payne had been obsessed with the Melbourne Cup since she was five, watching the race from her family’s farm in Ballarat. “I’d sit and watch the race and pull out my eyelashes so I could make a wish that I’d win it one day,” she recalled.

And she did. On that Tuesday in November ten years ago, she jumped from barrier one aboard Prince Of Penzance and gave him a perfect run. As they surged past the Flemington clock tower, she hit the lead and held it, delivering a Cup moment that stunned the racing world.

“I still find it hard to believe I’ve achieved that,” Payne said later. “I had no idea what would happen to my life after winning. I crossed that finishing line and went back to the mounting yard, and I still didn’t understand the enormity of it. It was an absolute shock.”

The win was a breakthrough for women in sport but also threw Payne into an unfamiliar and often demanding spotlight. “I wasn’t prepared,” she said. “There were so many requests, so many people asking for help, and I didn’t want to let anyone down. But I just couldn’t do everything.”

She found solace on her property in Ballarat – 40 acres next door to her dad’s farm, where she had learned to ride as a child. Bought with her brother Stevie in 2013, the farm became a retreat from the whirlwind of public attention and the foundation for a new stage in her career.

Prince Of Penzance, too, was an unlikely hero. He was a tough, quirky horse who had been with Payne for nearly every one of his starts. “He was underrated,” said owner John Richards. “Michelle understood him better than anyone.” 

Immediately after the win, Payne famously called out those who doubted her: “To everyone else, get stuffed, because they think women aren’t strong enough. But we just beat the world.”

The moment inspired a generation of young women in sport. In the following years, Payne continued riding, training, and working in the media and was portrayed on screen in Ride Like A Girl, the highest grossing Australian film of 2019.

But as she balanced all these commitments, her vision for life after riding came into focus.

“I knew I had to think about what I’d do when I finished riding,” she said. “It had to be something I was passionate about. Becoming a trainer was a logical step.”

Payne’s first big moment as a trainer came in 2018 when she guided Sweet Rockette – a filly she’d raised from a yearling – to a win at Moonee Valley. It was proof she could train as well as she rode.

Still, riding remained part of her life for several more years. She rose early to ride trackwork, managed her team of horses with brother Stevie, and opened a second base on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast to give her horses the best possible preparation year-round.

She also worked with Channel Ten during the 2023 Melbourne Cup Carnival, sharing her observations from the mounting yard. “I love seeing those champion horses in the flesh, noticing the little details, and sharing that with people at home,” she said.

In 2024, Payne quietly stepped back from the saddle. “It was a tough decision. But I’ve achieved my biggest dream and loved every second of it.”

Now, a decade on from her Cup triumph, she’s embarking on her next challenge – training in partnership with her brother Patrick. Patrick, one of Australia’s most respected trainers, has been a guiding force in her life. “We’ve found that our strengths really complement each other,” said Payne.

Michelle Payne remains a standout figure in Australian racing – not because of one win, but because of everything that came before and after. Her list of accolades includes more than 700 race wins and five Group 1 victories, including that historic Melbourne Cup triumph. In 2016, she received the Don Award for inspiring the nation, was inducted into the Australian Racing Hall of Fame, and won the International Longines Ladies Award. In 2021, she was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for her service to the racing industry. Her love for the sport, belief in herself, and willingness to keep learning have kept her grounded, even as she’s broken barriers.

Ten years ago, before the world knew her name, Michelle Payne shared her hopes with quiet conviction:

“My dream was to be a jockey and I think anyone who is passionate about something should follow their dream and grab every opportunity.”

Back then, she spoke modestly of one day becoming a trainer. “I want to keep working hard and do the best I can with my riding,” she said. “One day, I’d love to be a trainer with a small team of horses because I’d like to stay in the industry.”

A decade on, she has achieved exactly that, her journey from pioneering Cup winning jockey to dedicated horsewoman continuing to inspire.