Michelle Payne’s name has been etched into Aussie sports folklore, but there is so much more to know about this sassy jockey – and her amazing brother.
The Melbourne Cup has been run 155 times, but it took Michelle, a girl from rural Victoria, riding the Prince of Penzance to become the first ever female to win the country’s most prestigious race.
“I just couldn’t believe we’d won the Melbourne Cup, it’s a dream come true,” the 30-year-old told ABC after her win.
Sitting alongside her during the arduous press conference that followed the victory was Stevie, Michelle’s beloved brother and her horse’s handler.
“It was so funny when he let me go, he said, ‘don’t get beat, I got my money on you’ so I’m glad I could get the job done for him today,” she said about her brother, who has Down syndrome.
“I can’t believe it. It’s so good,” Stevie said after the win, before revealing that despite his excitement he’d rather keep the celebration simple.
“I’ll probably go back to the stables, have a few drinks,” he said.
But for Michelle, who lost her mum when she was just six months old, her victory was about so much more than just her own achievement.
“It’s such a chauvinistic sport…I just want to say that everyone can get stuffed because they think women aren’t strong enough, but we just beat the world,” she mused after her win. Very quickly, “get stuffed” became the catchphrase for women everywhere in male dominated industries.
Although Michelle is under no illusions that it was anything but hard work and determination that got her over the line, she gushed about the one man who made it all possible – her dad Patty, who raised 10 children on his own after his wife’s tragic death.
“He taught us to have a good work ethic, and that’s really helped in my career… he’s just an amazing person…I’m just so grateful for my upbringing because I wouldn’t be here without that.”
Click through to see how Michelle Payne won the Melbourne Cup and our hearts, in pictures
Yesterday, the nation came to a stand-still when 30-year-old Aussie jockey Michelle Payne became the first ever woman to win the Melbourne Cup on the back of New Zealand thoroughbred Prince of Penzance.
And in a true family affair, her proud big brother Stevie was there every step of the way for the triumphant moment working as the horse’s strapper.
Stevie, who has Down syndrome, and Michelle share an unbreakable bond.
“Stevie can pretty much do anything, and look after himself when he’s on his own,” she told the ABC of her brother.
“It’s great to be able to share this experience with him. We were always the youngest two growing up and spent a lot of time together… it’s great for him to have such an important role,” she added.
Siblings united! The talented brother-sister duo beam with pride as they hold the prestigious Melbourne Cup.
Despite her hectic career, Michelle still enjoys letting her hair down with her mates. In September, the athlete celebrated her 30th birthday with a fancy dress bash.
What a team! Michelle and Stevie cuddle up at the Ballarat Cup Day in 2013 (left) while her big bro focuses on an intense game of darts (right).
Michelle is the youngest of ten children and often spends time with her large family in Ballarat.
A country girl at heart… The award-winning jockey was raised on a farm.
Tragically when she was just six months old her mother Mary passed away from a car accident, with her father left to raise the entire family.
Michelle’s victory was about so much more than just her own achievement, “It’s such a chauvinistic sport…I just want to say that everyone can get stuffed because they think women aren’t strong enough, but we just beat the world.”
Michelle and one of her other brothers, Patrick, attended the Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival Launch in 2014 – little did she know a year later she’d take out the highest honour!
Michelle Payne used her historic Melbourne Cup win to champion her brother Stevie
Michelle says she’ll never forget seeing Stevie’s face when she returned from the track, adding that she wants to spread the word that young people with Down syndrome should be treated like anyone else.
“They can be so capable in so many ways,” says Michelle of her brother, seen here picking out some new specs. “Stevie is so smart and I hope that message gets out loud and clear.”
Stevie revealed to the ABC that he’s having a low key celebration after the win, “I’ll probably go back to the stables, have a few drinks.”
Stevie also picked lucky gate number one for Prince of Penzance.
When she’s not racing champions, Michelle – seen here in Cancun – loves travelling.
Michelle came in from behind to take out the astonishing victory in the race that stops a nation.
She might be a pro jockey but that doesn’t mean she’s not allowed to party from time to time.
Michelle and a friend kick back on the beach.
“It was so funny when he let me go, he said ‘don’t get beat, I got my money on you’ so I’m glad I could get the job done for him today,” Michelle said about her brother Stevie.
Thanks Michelle for blazing a trail for women and showing Australia the beauty of hard work!
