Jamie Melham Becomes Second Woman To Win Melbourne Cup

[Wandering Eyes]

Jamie Melham has become the second female jockey to win the Melbourne Cup, guiding Half Yours across the line first at Flemington Racecourse.

The Australian is also the first woman to claim the Melbourne Cup-Caulfield Cup double. Her win comes 10 years after Michelle Payne created history riding Prince of Penzance.

Following the victory, Melham told Australia's Nine Network: “This is why we get up out of bed every morning at 4am… it's tough. It's not all glorious and perfect, as everyone can see sometimes.

“I've had an amazing year. Got married, had some really great days on the track, but nothing ever, ever compares to this feeling right now I'm feeling.”

Half Yours – the only Australian-bred horse in the 24-strong field – was among the favourites to take advantage of the soft track after sporadic rain.

The horse was in a tussle for first place with Irish horse Goodie Two Shoes coming into the final stretch of the 3,200m race, but Melham kicked at the perfect time to cross the finish line with a multiple-length advantage.

The Joseph O'Brien-trained Goodie Two Shoes held on for second, with Middle Earth coming third and River of Stars finishing fourth.

Melham beat her husband Ben on board Smokin' Romans to the finish line, with the two sharing a moment after the race.

She used her post-race interview to pay tribute to her grandfather, who died last week.

“I have to mention my grandpa,” Melham told Nine. “He died last week. The last thing he watched was the Caulfield Cup, and he was such a big supporter of mine. So he's up there opening those gaps for me because I needed a few gaps open then.”

Al Riffa – also trained by Ireland's O'Brien – received a mountain of late support, but was unable to break away as it crossed the line in seventh place. O'Brien was searching for a third Melbourne Cup victory.

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