Jamie Melham has already secured her spot in racing folklore but admits she is "dying to ride a winner at Ascot" as she gears up to captain the Rest of the World team in Saturday's Shergar Cup.
Historic Melbourne Cup victory
Melham made history as only the second woman to triumph in the Melbourne Cup when she guided Half Yours to victory in the 'race that stops a nation' at Flemington last November and the first to complete the Caulfield Cup-Melbourne Cup double.
Now the 30-year-old leads Japanese racing icon Yutake Take and India's Suraj Narredu into battle against the calibre of Ryan Moore and Dylan Browne McMonagle as she chases another memorable success.
Bucket list ambitions
"It is very exciting to be back. It has been a few years since my first time, and a lot has happened to me in the meantime," Melham said.
"Like a lot of jockeys, I like to tick things off the bucket list. I have not ridden a winner here yet, although I went very close down the straight track when I was here for my first Shergar Cup. Fingers crossed I can do something I have never done before, and that is ride a winner in England. It would be amazing.
Ride assessment
"I have had a quick look at my rides and the weights I need to do – and it looks as though I can have a good breakfast on Saturday! The jockey coach, George Baker, reckons Stem in race three might be my best chance, but he thinks my other rides are OK too. One or two, or maybe three, winners would do me. I do not want to be too greedy! I am dying to ride a winner here.
Learning from past experience
"I know now that there are a lot of things I could have done differently last time. It is definitely a course where you need to not go too soon, while the wind is quite a factor down the straight, so you want cover behind the right horse.
"You do not want your horse to get interrupted and have to change course, so you need to plan ahead a lot. It is quite deceiving too. There are a lot of dips and rises, which you do not really see in Australia.
Future goals
"Things have definitely changed for me since my big year last year. I am in the history books now as only the second female to win the Melbourne Cup, but us jockeys are greedy and I want more. I want to win another Melbourne Cup and more feature races.
"The next thing on my bucket list will be to come back and ride at Royal Ascot. I have been here to watch a few times, and it is incredible."
