Jockey Jamie Melham made history on Tuesday by becoming only the second woman to win the Melbourne Cup, riding Half Yours to victory at Flemington. The five-year-old gelding finished two lengths ahead of Goodie Two Shoes in front of around 80,000 spectators on a wet track.
Melham, 29, told Channel Nine: “What just happened? Oh my god. This is what we do it for, this is why we get up out of bed every morning at 4am, work our asses off for the last 15 years I’ve been in this industry. It’s tough, it’s not all glorious and perfect as everyone can see sometimes.”
The victory comes a decade after Michelle Payne became the first woman to win the Cup on Prince of Penzance. Payne interviewed Melham after the race, saying: “Welcome to the club.” Melham also became the first female jockey to complete the Caulfield-Melbourne Cups double, having won the Caulfield Cup last month.
Melham overcame personal adversity, including the death of her grandfather last week and an induced coma after a fall in 2023. Her mother, former Olympic speed skater Karen Gardiner-Kah, became emotional remembering that period. Her father, John Kah, another Olympic speed skater, said: “Nice to get it done, I would hate her to finish a career without winning a Melbourne Cup. That is the pinnacle.”
The Tony and Calvin McEvoy-trained horse surged to the lead with 200 metres to go and won easily. Winning trainer Tony McEvoy said: “From the days we grew up, the Melbourne Cup was everything.” Of the $4.5m winner’s prize money, the jockey takes home $225,000.
