Jamie Melham’s moment in Melbourne Cup

Michelle Payne’s historic breakthrough in the Melbourne Cup will always stand as one of the most iconic moments in Australian racing, but Jamie Melham added her own chapter to the story on Tuesday at Flemington.

Melham became the first female jockey to secure the Caulfield Cup–Melbourne Cup double in the same spring, after guiding Half Yours to a memorable victory in the $10 million race.

Only 17 days earlier she had piloted the Tony and Calvin Mcevoy-trained stayer to victory in the Caulfield Cup, making Half Yours just the 13th galloper to achieve the famous double.

Despite riding sparingly this spring, Melham’s two biggest opportunities produced career-defining success.

“This is the race you dream about as a kid,” Melham said of the Cup.

“The feeling is indescribable. It still doesn’t feel real. To win the greatest race on the Australian calendar is something I’ll never forget.”

Melham’s career has been one of steady rise and relentless excellence, beginning with her breakout in South Australia where she won the local jockeys’ premiership as Jamie Kah. Several seasons later she returned to Victoria and eventually captured the 2020/21 Victorian Metropolitan Jockeys’ Premiership with 105 winners — a first for a female rider.

Her Melbourne Cup victory marked her 19th success at the highest level.

Emotions ran high as Melham revealed the personal meaning behind the win.

“My grandpa passed away last week,” she said.

“The last thing he watched was the Caulfield Cup, and he was always one of my biggest supporters. I know he helped me today.”

She said she had planned and rehearsed the race repeatedly with husband Ben Melham, who rode Smokin’ Romans in the Cup.

“We walked through every scenario yesterday, and somehow the race unfolded perfectly. That almost never happens in a Melbourne Cup.”

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