Melbourne Cup winning jockey Michelle Payne hopes her win in the nation's biggest horse race helps kids realise that dreams do come true.
"That's what I would like to say to everybody, that every young kid growing up, female or male, you have to follow your dreams because dreams do come true and it's a fairytale really how it all worked out with my brother, Stevie," said the fresh-faced jockey, the morning after winning the race that stops the nation.
Paddy Payne, Michelle's father, didn't see victory coming.
Payne said he was thrilled albeit surprised when Michelle, 30, became the first female jockey to win the prestigious race on Prince of Penzance.
"I thought that the girls would win a Melbourne Cup as time went on but I didn't think it would be one of mine," Payne told ABC radio on Wednesday.
"She's a good girl. She works hard and she's kind and she's a generous sort of thing."
Payne previously advised Michelle to quit racing after a series of bad falls, one in 2004 and two in 2012.
"Things were not going good and she had a few nasty falls and unexpected things had happened ... she wasn't well. But she's got better now and she's OK," he said.
The youngest of 10 children, Payne always wanted to be a jockey but never thought she'd be the one among her seven jockey siblings to win the Melbourne Cup.
"No, I thought I'd be better than my sisters; that was my main aim," Payne said after her victory.
The 30-year-old has become an overnight inspiration as the first female jockey to win the prestigious race on Prince Of Penzance.
"Last night, I laid in bed, I can't believe that it has actually happened.
"I am just excited about it," she told Network Seven on Wednesday, as her achievement still sinks in.
"I just hope that it's a good message for everybody out there, that you have to have faith in yourself. It doesn't matter where you come from.
"Obviously we grew up in the country. We had not a lot of money growing up and it doesn't matter.
"If you've got a dream and you believe in it, it can happen. I just really hope that that message goes out to everybody, male, female, young or old," said Payne, who is the youngest of 10 children.
"My whole life I have just been so lucky to be surrounded by such a great family."
The Payne family lost their mother in an accident when Michelle was six.
She also credits her brother Stevie, who has Down syndrome, with helping her dream come true to cross the line first, especially by picking barrier one in the race.
She hopes that Stevie shows that people with Down syndrome should be treated normally.
"Not just for Stevie but I think for Down syndromes and for families with Down syndromes.
"I think it's a big message out there to everybody, they are - they can be treated as normal and have such a great life if you allow them to have responsibility and allow them to grow.
"Stevie is incredible. He can look after himself."
She said on Wednesday that she had always said she would retire if she won the Melbourne Cup
"It would be a good way to go out but I feel it would be a bit of a shame too because I feel like I'm just starting to get going now, I may as well carry on and enjoy it," she said.
As the racing week continues, she said she would hold off on celebrating until the week winds up.
On Wednesday the jockey will be heading to a race meeting in Kyneton in Victoria.
"I was taking it pretty easy. I thought I will wait until the end of the week and then I can have a good celebration."
'Get stuffed': Payne's historic Melbourne Cup win makes headlines around the world
Reactions to Payne's win around the world have been overwhelmingly positive with many outlets describing the historic win as a victory for women in a male dominated sport.
"I can't say how grateful I am (to the people who helped me), and I want to say to everyone else, get stuffed, because women can do anything and we can beat the world," Payne said.
Starting at $101, Prince Of Penzance also made headlines as one of the longest-priced winners in Melbourne Cup history.
Speaking after the race yesterday Payne praised trainer darren Weir for backing her: "To Think that Darren Weir has given me a go and it's such a chauvinistic sport, I know some of the owners were keen to kick me off, and (part-owner) John Richards and Darren (Weir) stuck strongly with me."
The New York Times.
NZ Herald.
The Darren Weir trained horse swept to the lead at the 200m, before holding off a late challenge from Irish stayer Max Dynamite. Criterion came third.
Shortly after the win #getstuffed was appearing on Twitter.
Payne is one of ten siblings, but it was her brother Steven Payne, who has Down syndrome, that added to the positive story of success.
Steven has been Prince Of Penzance's strapper and the joy of the win was clear on his face yesterday.
Prince Of Penzance became only the fourth 100-1 chance to win the Melbourne Cup in its 155th running.
Payne, 30, had to push the six-year-old gelding after he came out of gate one slower than she would have liked but soon had him in a better than midfield position with English horse Big Orange leading the pack form Excess Knowledge.
Michelle Payne celebrates her winning ride on Prince Of Penzance after the Melbourne Cup with brother and strapper Stephen Payne on Melbourne Cup Day at Flemington Racecourse. Photo by Michael Dodge Source: Getty Images
The Independent
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