Michelle Payne: A legacy cast in bronze

In 2015, Michelle Payne made history when she became the first woman to ride a Melbourne Cup winner.

Sculptor Judith Leman – whose own life has been shaped by a deep love of horses – was approached by legendary racecaller, Brian Martin, with the idea of a permanent tribute to mark the 10th anniversary of Payne’s Melbourne Cup victory in 2015.

The life-size sculpture began with a sitting at Payne’s Ballarat home, where Leman took photographs and measurements before embarking on months of meticulous claywork – capturing the folds of jockey silks, Payne’s name etched into the breeches, and the precise detail of her hands. Most striking of all, that unmistakable Michelle Payne smile shines through.

Sculpture details

Life size armature and bronze casting by Mal Wood Foundry

Granite base provided by the Lodge Brothers Stonemason (leading stone masons for over 100 years)

Generously funded by philanthropist Lady Marigold Southey.

THE WIN

The 2015 Melbourne Cup

On the first Tuesday of November 2015, Michelle Payne and Prince Of Penzance did the unthinkable. Jumping from barrier one at odds of 100-1, Payne gave the quirky gelding a perfect run and, as they surged past the Flemington clock tower, hit the lead and held it – delivering one of the greatest upsets in the Cup’s history, and becoming the first woman to win the race.

Left (Desktop) / Below (Mobile): Michelle Payne finds a quiet moment in the Jockeys Room just moments after winning the 2015 Melbourne Cup. (Photographer/Colleen Petch/Newspix)

When that wish finally came true, it took time to sink in. “I crossed that finishing line and went back to the mounting yard, and I still had no idea of the enormity of it. It was an absolute shock,” she said.

What came next would be just as defining. In the post-race interview, Payne spoke plainly and powerfully: “To everyone else, get stuffed, because they think women aren’t strong enough. But we just beat the world.” The words resonated far beyond racing,

inspiring a generation of women in sport and sparking a surge in the number of female apprentice jockeys

Immediately after the win, Payne famously called out those who doubted her:

“To everyone else, get stuffed, because they think women aren’t strong enough. But we just beat the world.”

Career & Legacy

Payne’s Melbourne Cup win was the centrepiece of a career that stretched across more than two decades and accumulated over 700 race wins, including five at Group 1 level. In 2016, she received the Don Award for inspiring the nation and was inducted into the Australian Racing Hall of Fame. That same year, she was honoured with the International Longines Ladies Award. In 2021, she received the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for her service to the racing industry.

Her story was brought to the big screen in 2019 with Ride Like A Girl, directed by Academy Award-nominated actress Rachel Griffiths AM, which became the highest-grossing Australian sports film of that year.

Her relationship with the Victoria Racing Club has remained close ever since that famous day at Flemington. Named a Melbourne Cup Carnival Ambassador for both 2024 and 2025, Payne has taken on a prominent role – providing expert analysis and insight during the Carnival, and hitting the road as part of the Lexus Melbourne Cup Tour, visiting rural and regional communities across Australia.

The 2025 Tour brought a particularly poignant stop: Ballarat, Payne’s hometown, where a very special guest joined the visit – Prince Of Penzance himself. It was a full-circle moment just days before the 10th anniversary of their historic win.