Michelle Payne has become the first woman to ride a Melbourne Cup winner - and has had a spray at "chauvinistic" horse owners.
The jockey realised her dream when 100-1 New Zealand-bred outsider Prince of Penzance won the big race at Flemington Racecourse, Melbourne this afternoon.
Payne, whose family originally came from Hāwera, rode a brilliant tactical race to upset the international raiders for Melbourne trainer Darren Weir.
Irish visitor Max Dynamite finished second for renowned trainer Willie Mullins and Criterion, owned by New Zealand millionaire Sir Owen Glenn, was third.
The Japanese horse Fame Game closed as a $5.40 favourite on the New Zealand TAB, but was unplaced.
"My sister Margaret and I both had a feeling we would win this race," said Payne in a trackside interview.
"It's such a chauvinistic sport, a lot of the owners wanted to kick me off.
"Everyone else can get stuffed (who) think women aren't good enough."
Payne said she knew Prince Of Penzance was going to be in the race as the field headed towards the home turn.
"From the 1000 (metres) everything just opened up," she said. "I got onto the back of Trip to Paris, he took me into the race.
"I was actually clipping his heels, I was going that good but I didn't want to check him and then he just got into the straight and burst clear and it was unreal
"It's unbelievable. I lay in bed last night... it's the kind of thing you dream about it. It's a dream come true, this horse, what he's been through," she said as she pulled up.
"Darren Weir is an unbelievable trainer to get him here today. They got him here in the best shape today. This is awesome.
"When I won on this horse as a three year old I felt he was a Melbourne Cup horse. Far out, I didn't think he would be that strong. He just burst to the front and he was powering to the line."
Pride of Penzance is by Pentire, a sire from Rich Hill Stud in Waikato. Stud proprietor John Thompson said it was a big thrill to watch the race on television.
"It's great knowing we have been involved in his upbringing," he told Trackside TV.
In an extraordinary race Prince of Penzance saw off the late challenge of the Irish hurdler Max Dynamite, ridden by the European champion Frankie Dettori and trained by the Irish maestro Willie Mullins, with the highly weighted Criterion, partnered by Michael Walker for the David Hayes stable, in third position.
Ed Dunlop was hoping he would finally break his duck in Australia having had three second places in the Melbourne Cup with the ageless warrior Red Cadeaux. But the horse did not finish after breaking down during the runner.
Dunlop's other contender, Trip to Paris, was a strong finishing fourth, showing that his second place in the Caulfield Cup was no fluke.
Weir has emerged in the past decade as one of Australia's leading trainers, winning the Victorian metropolitan trainers premiership in the past two years.
He went close to winning a Melbourne Cup with She's Archie when that mare ran second to the great Makybe Diva, but this success surely eclipses all that has come before for Weir.
For Payne she now becomes etched not just in racing immortality but in Australian sporting legend.
Weir was choked with the success: "It's a lifetime dream come true, its an unbelievable thing to happen to anyone."
RED CADEAUX INJURED IN MELBOURNE CUP
The three-time Melbourne Cup runner-up Red Cadeaux has been rushed to a veterinary clinic after breaking down close to the winning post during his fifth attempt at winning the race.
The horse injured his left fetlock. The leg has been placed in a splint and the horse has been given some relief from the pain, according to chief Racing Victoria veterinarian Brian Stewart.
"Everything is being done for him. He will undergo X-rays in the next hour. I will not speculate on his condition," said Stewart.
Red Cadeaux was the sentimental favourite for the race, given his incredible history at Flemington. No horse has previously finished second in three Cups.
The Ed Dunlop-trained stayer was pulled out of the race in the final stages and a green screen was put up around him.
There was a mixed reaction in the grandstand during the race. The cheers for the winner quickly turned to an eerie hush after people realised one of the horses was injured.
However, the 11-year-old got to his feet, to the cheers of the 100,000-strong crowd.
He was soon loaded onto a horse ambulance and taken to the clinic.
Source: Stuff.co.nz and The Age
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