Opportunity.

It is all we could ever hope for.

Record female jockey participation in the Melbourne Cup this year is worthy of celebration.

By my first ride in the Cup in 2009, I was only the fourth female jockey to compete in our great race after Maree Lyndon (1987), Clare Lindop (2007) and Lisa Cropp (2007).

Times are changing.

Last year three women rode in the Cup – Jamie Kah, Rachel King and Hollie Doyle.

They will be joined by Winona Costin this year.

I am disappointed for my great friend Nikita Beriman – she was booked to ride Mission Of Love in the Cup before its withdrawal on Friday.

The four girls in the Cup are going to do us proud on Tuesday.

• PUNT LIKE A PRO: Become a Racenet iQ member and get expert tips – with fully transparent return on investment statistics – from Racenet’s team of professional punters at our Pro Tips section. SUBSCRIBE NOW!

I don’t want to say it’s about time, but finally we’re getting the opportunities I think we deserve and most importantly they are being secured without a second thought.

You can’t win the Melbourne Cup without opportunities.

I’m really looking forward to the jockeys’ presentation before the race.

How exciting it will be to see all the girls lined up, some good rides among them, too.

They’re on lightweight chances, but there’s some sneaky hopes among their four mounts.

Jamie Kah has the pick of them, with Okita Soushi.

He won really well in the Moonee Valley Gold Cup last start.

It’s a race I won with Prince Of Penzance a year before we won the Melbourne Cup.

“Okita Soushi holding on and wins!”

Okita Soushi bolts in to win the Moonee Valley Gold Cup ????@cmaherracing‘s winning roll continues ???? @TheBeeeganpic.twitter.com/eNkglKBkwH

— Racing.com (@Racing) October 25, 2024

• 2024 Melbourne Cup final field, barrier draw

I think Positivity, Winona Costin’s ride, is a really promising stayer, whether she’s there yet we’ll see, but she’s a lightweight chance.

Winona has done the work and deserved her go in the Cup.

She rode brilliantly in the Caulfield Cup last year and has obviously come through under Gai Waterhouse, who has prepped her beautifully.

She’ll definitely hold her own.

Winona Costin will ride Positivity in Tuesday’s Melbourne Cup. Picture: Reg Ryan / Racing Photos

• Melbourne Cup favourite eases in betting after horror draw

Sea King was really impressive in the Bendigo Cup, you’d definitely think he’s in with a show with Hollie Doyle on.

Hollie is a really strong rider and she’ll really suit Sea King, which is obviously why the booking has been made.

Also, I think the fact she had one ride in the Cup last year definitely helps, because it is a huge occasion.

I know she’s ridden all around the world but there is still nothing like the Melbourne Cup and that experience will be an advantage as well.

UK visitor Sea King destroys his rivals in the Bendigo Cup ????

Congratulations to @H_Eustace & @decbates ???? pic.twitter.com/d5ycejS9FO

— Racing.com (@Racing) October 30, 2024

All of the jockeys on Tuesday, male and female, deserve recognition for the skill, talent and work ethic required to get this far.

It’s a tough job being a jockey and everyone who makes it into a Melbourne Cup has to put in the hours and worked extremely hard.

There are so many fantastic female athletes and aspiring jockeys out there willing to give racing a go and they now get to see what’s possible, the opportunities are there.

That’s got to be a help and be encouraging.

Seeing is believing.

The luckiest thing for me was I grew up as the youngest of 10, thrown into the bunch of jockeys in the family and didn’t see myself as a female rider.

Hollie Doyle has a terrific chance in Tuesday’s Melbourne Cup aboard Sea King. Picture: Alan Crowhurst / Getty Images

• Kah caps off drama-charged day with Victoria Derby glory

I just went out there and did my best and couldn’t understand why I wasn’t given the same opportunity as the boys.

Times are changing, with so many female riders competing at the highest level in Australia and around the world.

I don’t want young female jockeys to come in thinking it’s going to be fun, just winning races all the time. There is a lot of hard work and sacrifice that comes with it.

I’d like to be riding Absurde. I thought he was terrific last year, bringing the field into the race and hitting the front early, he stuck on really well.

It wasn’t any fault of the rider, Zac Purton, but had he got the same suck run that Without A Fight enjoyed with Mark Zahra, he certainly would’ve been in the finish. He’s my top pick to win this year’s classic.

I’m sure Willie Mullins is really keen to win the Cup, with Absurde or Vauban.

MICHELLE PAYNE’S TIPS
1 – ABSURDE
2 – Vauban
3 – Buckaroo
4 – Okita Soushi

* Michelle Payne, the first female jockey to win the Melbourne Cup in 2015 on Prince Of Penzance, is a VRC Melbourne Cup Carnival ambassador.