WILLIE MULLINS HAD to settle for second place as Michelle Payne made history in the 155th running of the Melbourne Cup.
Payne became the first female jockey to win ’the race that stops the nation’ when she rode 100/1 outsider Prince of Penzance to a massive upset on Tuesday.
In a tight finish, Prince of Penzance powered home to hold off Mullins’ Max Dynamite (12/1) by half-a-length with Criterion (18/1) close behind at the head of a strong international field.
The well-supported Japanese race favourite Fame Game (4/1) was always well back and finished 13th as Payne and her brother Stevie, the horse’s groom, started their celebrations.
Stevie, who has Down syndrome, drew Prince of Penzance’s number one barrier on Saturday night.
“Unbelievable, it’s like a dream come true. This horse is awesome,” Payne said moments after winning the world’s richest two-mile handicap, which has a €4 million (AU$6.2m) purse.
Mullins was bidding to become the first Irish trainer to win the Melbourne Cup since Dermot Weld saddled Media Puzzle to a remarkable win in 2002, but had to make do with second and the €590,000 runner-up cheque.
Jockey Frankie Dettori was later charged with causing interference in the straight and was fined and suspended for a month.
The other Irish contenders, Aidan O’Brien’s Bondi Beach and Kingfisher, finished down the field in 16th and 19th respectively.
It was a fairytale victory for Payne, 30, who has fought back from life-threatening race injuries and also battled prejudice in what she called “such a chauvinistic sport”.
“It’s a very male-dominated sport and people think we (women) are not strong enough and all of the rest of it, but you know what, it’s not all about strength,” she said at the winner’s presentation.
“There is so much more involved, getting the horse into a rhythm, getting the horse to try for you, it’s being patient and I’m so glad to win the Melbourne Cup and hopefully, it will help female jockeys from now on to get more of a go.
I believe that we don’t get enough of a go and hopefully this will help.
Talking to Australia’s Channel Seven, she praised trainer Darren Weir and owner John Richards for their support and added:
I want to say to everyone else, get stuffed, because women can do anything and we can beat the world.
Payne, the youngest of 10 children, was just six months old when her mother Mary was killed in a car crash. She comes from a family steeped in racing pedigree, with only two other siblings not becoming jockeys.
At 18 Payne fractured her skull and suffered bruising on the brain when she fell head-first in a Melbourne race. She suffered further injuries, breaking a wrist and smashing an ankle in other race falls.
Trip To Paris came in fourth but Newmarket trainer Ed Dunlop’s other runner, three-time race runner-up Red Cadeaux, failed to finish.
There were initial reports that the popular 10-year-old gelding was taken from the course for immediate surgery on a fetlock.
- © AFP, 2015; additional reporting Niall Kelly
