Let's face it: winning at anything is always a satisfying feeling, and when you're a Aussie jockey, winning a race like the Melbourne Cup - Australia's most prestigious thoroughbred horse race - is undoubtedly high on your agenda.
Michelle Payne's win on Prince of Penzance proved doubly satisfying, however, as she made history as the first female jockey to win the race earlier today.
The 30-year-old jockey, who claimed she had dreamed about this moment since she was 5, had a lot to say about the 'chauvinistic' world of horse racing, too. "I know some of the owners were keen to kick me off," she said, crediting her trainers for sticking with her. "I put in all the effort I could and galloped him all I could because I thought he had what it takes to win the Melbourne Cup and I can’t say how grateful I am to them. And I want to say to everyone else, get stuffed, because women can do anything and we can beat the world."
She continued: "I would like to say that, you know, it’s a very male-dominated sport and people think we are not strong enough and all of the rest of it, blah-blah blah, you know what, it’s not all about strength, 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 Melbourne Cup and hopefully, it will help female jockeys from now on to get more of a go. Because I believe that we sort of don’t get enough of a go and hopefully this will help.”
Good on yer, girl.
