'It's taken a while': Michelle Payne's candid message after Melbourne Cup record

Atop her trusty steed Prince of Penzance, Michelle Payne raced her way to the title of the first female jockey to ever win the Melbourne Cup in 2015.

Nine years later, the trailblazer remains the only female jockey to have won the prestigious cup, but has paved the way for the women following in her footsteps.

This week, a record number of female jockeys took to the famed Flemington racecourse for the Melbourne Cup race and while she thinks it was long overdue, it's something Payne is immensely proud of. 

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"It's just wonderful. Honestly, everything we could hope for. I think it's taken a while but finally," Payne exclusively tells 9honey at the Crown marquee during the famed Crown Oaks Day.

New Zealand jockey Winona Costin, Australian jockey Jamie Kah and British jockeys Rachel Kind and Hollie Doyle joined the 23-strong field for Tuesday's long-awaited race.

While they didn't find victory, with Robbie Dolan taking out the famed cup this year, Payne could not be happier to see women taking up the space they deserve in the sport and doing it well. 

"Just loving seeing all the girls out there and not only just getting the opportunities but they're great, they're so talented and great representation," she says.

In the years to come, Payne can't wait to see the number of women taking to the track each year continue to break records as female representation in horse-racing grows.

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"I think it's just onwards and upwards from here," she says.

Payne is aware that she remains the only woman to ever ride a Melbourne Cup winner but she looks forward to the day another woman joins her on that champion podium. 

"You just want to see everybody wanting to do what I've done and just dream big," Payne says. 

"I just feel as though it's so great that times are changing, and a lot of the younger girls can actually think that anything can happen, like a Melbourne cup."

This week, Payne has taken to the Flemington sidelines in some stunning frocks - a stark contrast to the jodhpurs of her racing days. And while she's no longer riding professionally, she's taking pride in being a role model for those following her lead.

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"[I'm] loving the fact that I'm an inspiration and a role model to the young girls coming through that anything can happen if you work really hard and dream big."

Her advice for those young women? Stick to your goals with grit and conviction. 

"I think it's just important to have a really strong goal and never waver from that," Payne says. 

"If you really do want something big and grand, it's going to be tough times, there's no, there's no sugar coating that, but you just have to be strong, believe in yourself. I think that's one of the biggest things and try and enjoy it along the way."

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