Jamie Melham became the second female jockey to win the Melbourne Cup as she rode Half Yours to victory at Flemington today.
Goodie Two Shoes finished second while Middle Earth was third.
The 165th running of the $10 million race was run on a soft track as Melbourne missed out on the worst of afternoon showers.
There was drama at the start of the race with a protest after the first race then jockey Neil Farley was suspended for breaching whipping rules in race two, media reports say; he was subsequently suspended for seven race meetings.
MELHAM’S DOUBLE
Melham’s $4.5 million win astride the five-year-old gelding comes after her win in the Caulfield Cup last month, the first woman to complete the double.
Today’s victory also comes 10 years after Michelle Payne became the first woman to ride the race winner.
Interviewed by the Nine Network after the race, Melham paid tribute to her grandfather, who had died last week.
Melham’s husband, Ben, also rode in the big race, on Smokin’ Romans, who finished in 14th. They are believed to be the first married couple to ride in the Cup.
It was also trainer Calvin McEvoy’s first Cup victory, media reports say. Half Yours was reportedly the only Australian horse in the 24-strong field.
The field featured American-trained Parchment; owned by Jim and Dana Bernhard’s Pin Oak Stud and prepared by American Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott, winner of this year’s Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes.
Runners from Japan, Great Britain, Ireland, France and Germany also took part.
The spring racing carnival continues with Oaks Day on Thursday (November 6).
FINISHING ORDER
1. Half Yours, 2. Goodie Two Shoes, 3. Middle Earth, 4. River Of Stars, 5. Torranzino, 6. Vauban, 7. Al Riffa, 8. Absurde, 9. Changingoftheguard, 10. Meydaan, 11. Furthur, 12. Arapaho, 13. Flatten The Curve, 14. Smokin’ Romans, 15. Royal Supremacy, 16. Valiant King, 17. Onesmoothoperator, 18. More Felons, 19. Presage Nocturne, 20. Parchment Party, 21. Athabascan, 22. Land Legend, 23. Chevalier Rose, 24. Buckaroo.
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