Overview
- The bronze statue, unveiled Thursday at Flemington Racecourse, honors jockey Michelle Payne’s landmark Melbourne Cup triumph.
- It becomes only the fifth statue on the course, placing her alongside trainer Bart Cummings, jockey Roy Higgins, and champions Phar Lap and Makybe Diva.
- Sculptor Judith Leman designed the piece, with funding from philanthropist Lady Marigold Southey AC.
- Payne said the tribute feels surreal and hopes it encourages young people to chase big goals, while VRC chairman Neil Wilson hailed her as a model for female participation in the sport.
- Payne made history in 2015 as the first woman to win the Cup, guiding 100-1 outsider Prince Of Penzance, a milestone many credit with opening doors later reached by fellow winner Jamie Kah.