Melham and Half Yours Gallop Into Melbourne Cup Glory
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| Jamie Melham Rides Into History as Only the Second Woman to Win the Melbourne Cup |
Jamie Melham Makes History as Half Yours Storms to Melbourne Cup Glory
Jamie Melham carved her name into racing history on Tuesday, becoming only the second female jockey ever to win the Melbourne Cup after guiding Half Yours to a stunning victory at Flemington.
The 8-1 shot surged ahead in the closing stages of Australia’s most prestigious race, finishing three lengths clear of Goodie Two Shoes, trained by Ireland’s Joseph O’Brien and ridden by Wayne Lordan. Middle Earth claimed third.
The triumph completed a remarkable double for Melham and Half Yours, who also captured the Caulfield Cup last month — making her the first woman to ever secure the coveted Caulfield–Melbourne Cup double.
Moments after the win, an emotional Melham told Nine Network:
“What just happened? Oh my God. This is what we do it for — this is why we get up at 4 a.m. every morning.”
The winning horse is trained by the father-and-son duo Tony and Calvin McEvoy, adding another chapter to their already celebrated racing legacy.
Meanwhile, the 5-1 favourite Presage Nocturne could manage only 19th in what was the 165th running of the two-mile classic. Other notable finishes included O’Brien’s Al Riffa in seventh, Absurde in eighth for Ireland’s Willie Mullins, and Meydaan in tenth for British trainers Simon and Ed Crisford.
Melham revealed she sensed victory when she passed her husband, fellow jockey Ben Melham, who was aboard Smokin’ Romans — the horse eventually finished 14th.
The 29-year-old rider, who made a comeback to racing after a serious fall in 2023, described the win as the highlight of an already life-changing year.
“I got married, had some amazing days on the track, but nothing — absolutely nothing — compares to this feeling right now,” she said.
Melham also dedicated her win to her late grandfather, who passed away just a week before the race.
“The last thing he watched was the Caulfield Cup. He was my biggest supporter,” she said. “I like to think he was up there opening those gaps for me — and I definitely needed them.”
Michelle Payne, the trailblazer who became the first woman to win the Melbourne Cup in 2015 aboard the 100-1 outsider Prince of Penzance, congratulated Melham after the race, saying warmly: “Welcome to the club.”
An 80,000-strong crowd braved cold, wet, and windy weather to witness what is famously known as “the race that stops a nation.”
First run in 1861, the Melbourne Cup remains the world’s richest handicap race, with a total prize pool of 10 million Australian dollars (£5 million). The handicap format means each horse carries a different weight based on its ability, designed to make the contest as even as possible.
Despite its prestige, the race has faced criticism in recent years over animal welfare concerns. Between 2013 and 2020, six horses died as a result of incidents connected to the event, prompting stricter safety protocols from race organisers.
But for now, history belongs to Jamie Melham and Half Yours — a pairing that not only conquered the Cup but also redefined what’s possible for women in Australian racing.
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