Melham’s heart is full after Half Yours’ Melbourne Cup win
Top female jockey rewrites racing history and pays emotional tribute to grandfather
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MELBOURNE Superstar jockey Jamie Melham has become the first woman to complete the Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival’s big Cups double.
She partnered Half Yours to an emotional victory in the A$10 million (S$8.53 million) Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3,200m) at Flemington on Nov 4.
Although the South Australian’s win in “the race that stops a nation” came a decade after Michelle Payne became the first woman to win it aboard Prince of Penzance in 2015, Melham still created her own slice of history.
Earlier on Oct 18, she saluted in the Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2,400m) with the Tony and Calvin McEvoy-trained gelding, becoming the first female jockey to claim the prestigious Group 1 event in its 149-year history.
With that, the St Jean five-year-old galloper has also become the 13th horse to complete the Caulfield Cup-Melbourne Cup double.
He follows Poseidon (1906), The Trump (1937), Rivette (1939), Rising Fast (1954), Even Stevens (1962), Galilee (1966), Gurner’s Lane (1982), Let’s Elope (1991), Doriemus (1995), Might And Power (1997), Ethereal (2001) and Without A Fight (2023).
The Cup wins are the two most recent victories for Melham, who has had a light spring since her maiden major success at Caulfield.
“This is what we dream of when we first get our jockey licence. You want to (just) ride in the Melbourne Cup, let alone win the Melbourne Cup,” she said.
“That’s something that I’ve been thinking about all week. It hasn't sunk in, this feeling is indescribable. We just won the best race in Australia.
“I’ve had an amazing year. I got married, had some really great days on the track but nothing ever, ever compares to this feeling right now.”
Melham firmly owns her place alongside Payne among the biggest trailblazers the sport has seen.
The 29-year-old rider has been a sensation since bursting on the scene as a teenager in South Australia. She rode her first winner, Miss Fabuleux, at Streaky Bay – coincidentally the home town of Tony – on March 24, 2012.
The following season, Melham won the 2012-2013 Adelaide jockeys’ premiership when known by her maiden name, Jamie Kah.
She had a brief stint in Melbourne, but returned to Adelaide to win another premiership in 2017-2018, before moving back to Victoria in 2019. She has since been firmly entrenched among Australian racing’s elite.
In the 2020-2021 season, Melham became the first woman to ride 105 winners to win the Victorian Metropolitan Jockeys’ Premiership.
The Melbourne Cup victory was her 19th success at Group 1 level.
It was an emotional win for Melham, who lost her grandfather not long after the Caulfield Cup. Half Yours won by 2¾ lengths, and she was convinced he played a part in the triumph from above.
“I have to mention my grandpa, he died last week,” said Melham.
“The last thing he watched was the Caulfield Cup, but he was such a big supporter of mine. He was up there opening those gaps for me because I needed a few gaps opened.”
She shared a special moment with her husband Ben Melham, who rode Smokin’ Romans (14th) in the race, and could not believe how the race played out for her.
“I said, ‘I rode it how you told me to’,” she said.
“We don’t normally talk racing much, but we went through this race about 10-15 times yesterday and that’s exactly what I wanted to happen.
“It’s not normal that what you want to happen, happens. In these big races, there’s so many good chances and all you need to do is give them a good ride.”
Half Yours ($37) took the upper hand from Goodie Too Shoes (Wayne Lordan) to deny Irish trainer Joseph O’Brien of his third Melbourne Cup win. Middle Earth (Ethan Brown), who turned his form around over the longer trip, finished another 1½ lengths away to fill the third spot.
The McEvoys have also achieved a lifelong dream, especially for father Tony, who now boasts trophies from the three big races in Victoria.
His Group 1 Cox Plate (2,040m) trophy with Fields Of Omagh in 2003 is now joined by Half Yours’ Caulfield Cup and Melbourne Cup wins in 2025.
“I lost sight of him when that leader went out,” said Tony, referring to the Chris Waller-trained Land Legend who took a 10-length lead at the 1,400m mark.
“My eyes aren’t as good as they were, and I caught him ducking back to the inside.
“What a thrill and what a horse he is, and what a joy he is for us.” RACING AND SPORTS
