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Letter of the Week

One tough legend

In Victoria’s Inside Racing magazine of August 2010, there was a feature story — “Michelle Payne, in the best company”.
The writer says: “Michelle Payne finally believes she belongs in the best races on the best horses against the best jockeys.” I guess it took until Melbourne Cup Day 2015 for her to demonstrate beyond doubt that she had reached that pinnacle.
She is now a legend and a most important part of Australian thoroughbred folklore and racing history. In that 2010 article she is wearing Bart Cummings’s colours. He was somebody who did recognise her abilities.
 I was there to see Bart win his 12th Cup, was there when Black Caviar won her final (25th) race and was there cheering my lungs out when Michelle drove to the front with about 300 metres to go in her Melbourne Cup. It was probably the highlight of my more than 50 years attending racing.
 A few days after the Melbourne Cup I was at Geelong, where I observed Michelle on a couple of occasions.  The first was her pre-race discussion with trainer Pat Carey.  Whilst I couldn’t hear the talk, it was very obvious Michelle had her own idea/game plan as to how the horse should be ridden.
In the last race she rode the favourite for Gai Waterhouse. It was pipped on the line.  She rode it as I would have expected her to riding a Waterhouse horse — jumping to the front and leading.  
After the race there was some finger-pointing going on, and again Michelle was an the front foot.
Last week on Radio Sport National’s racing review program the steward Robert Cram was asked to discuss the suspension of Michelle Payne.
I guess what I took out of the steward’s comments was that Michelle conducts herself quite robustly in defending herself.
With a couple of life-threatening falls behind her she has clearly developed a level of defiance as she continues to pursue her career as a jockey.
 I was also present 15 or 16 years ago at Geelong when Michelle had her first ride in a race.
The little girl of that day is now a very mature woman and successful jockey who has established her own position in our racing history.
She’s there with her brothers-in-law, Kerrin McEvoy and Brett Prebble, on the Melbourne Cup honour board.

Peter J. McNamara
Canterbury (Vic)
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Friday 29 March
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