Australian jockey Michelle Payne made history overnight by becoming the first female rider to win the Melbourne Cup in the race's storied 155 year history.
Aboard the 100/1 shot Prince Of Penzance, the 30 year-old held off the challenge of Willie Mullins and others to storm home to victory with just a furlong and half to go.
This is the first time a horse of these outside odds has won the race in some 75 years and considering the horse was purchased for just $50,000, Payne's achievement is well deserving of a berth in the Melbourne Cup archives.
And after the race, a proud Michelle Payne took the opportunity to issue a defiant message to those who don't appreciate the ability of female jockeys:
I want to say to everyone else, get stuffed, because women can do anything and we can beat the world. It's a very male dominated sport and people think we're not strong enough and all the rest of it. But it's not all about strength, there's so much more involved in it. It's getting the horse into a rhythm, it's getting the horse to try for you and being patient. Hopefully it'll help more female jockeys from now on to get more of a go.
Payne comes from a renowned family on the horse racing circuit. Her father was a well regarded jockey and eight of her nine siblings have all followed the same pursuit.
