Randwick set to welcome Michelle Payne

Michelle Payne will be a special guest of the Australian Turf Club at Randwick, a month after she became the first woman jockey to win the Melbourne Cup.



Michelle Payne jubilant after Prince Of Penzance won the Emirates Melbourne Cup.

Randwick set to welcome Michelle Payne

Michelle Payne will be a special guest of the Australian Turf Club at Randwick, a month after she became the first woman jockey to win the Melbourne Cup.

Michelle Payne is embracing her roles as a racing ambassador and personal motivator, profiles she has adopted since her history-making Melbourne Cup win.

Although riding horses is still a priority, Payne has been surprised by the amount of attention she has received in the weeks since Prince Of Penzance's upset win in Australia's most famous race.

Payne was in Sydney on Wednesday and will bring her trophy to Randwick on Saturday.

"I thought if it did happen that it would be a pretty big thing, but it has been a lot bigger than I thought," Payne said.

"It has been fantastic.

"So many people come up to me on the street and in everyday life and tell me how it has really inspired them in so many different areas.

"Someone who was going to quit uni said it really inspired her to keep going, and people with young children and people with Down Syndrome like my brother Stevie ... it has been unreal how it has impacted on so many people."

Stevie Payne works for trainer Darren Weir and his presence as the strapper of Prince Of Penzance has lifted the profile of the capabilities of people with Down Syndrome.

"He loves it," his sister said.

"I asked him at Ballarat Cup day how he was handling it and he said, `I am loving it'.

"We were a bit worried that it may be a bit much for him because it is so different from his day-to-day life and he has just handled it like it was meant to be."

Payne and her brother will be special guests of the Australian Turf Club on Saturday and she is looking forward to sharing her experiences with the public.

"It is going to be fantastic on the day to come out and mingle with the public and get some photo opportunities," she said.

"That seems to be what everyone is loving since the win so hopefully they will love it on Saturday."


AAP


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