Michelle Payne wins ahead of overseas trip
Melbourne Cup-winning jockey Michelle Payne has ridden a winner at Flemington for her brother Patrick ahead of flying out to the UK to compete at Royal Ascot.
Payne, who created history when she won the 2015 Melbourne Cup on Prince Of Penzance at Flemington, steered the Patrick Payne-trained Invincible Al to a last-to-first win in Saturday’s L.V. Lachal Handicap (1000m) in her only ride for the day.
Payne, who now holds a dual jockey/trainer licence in Victoria, said she was heading to England early next week as she is scheduled to ride the Jane Chapple-Hyam-trained Kaspersky in the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot on June 20.
“I’m leaving on Monday night for England,” Payne said.
“I’m still working on getting my visa over there because I was unaware of the new changes. And last time I was in England I just rode on a visiting jockeys’ licence and had no problems, had a clearance from our stewards, but this time it’s a lot different.
“So we’re working overtime to get that sorted before the 20th of June.
“I was hoping to ride in the week leading up (to Royal Ascot) but it just depends on how we go with the visa. I don’t think that’s looking like it will happen at this stage, but we’ll see what happens in the next few days.”
Invincible Al ($9.50) settled at the tail of the field in Saturday’s 1000m straight race before Payne angled him into the clear on the outside and the three-year-old let down powerfully to win by 1-1/4 lengths running away.
“It was the perfect scenario for him today with the speed on,” Payne said.
“Patrick could not have had him in better shape, he was so relaxed.
“And when he’s able to just switch off like that and coast along behind the field, you know he’s going to have a pretty explosive turn of foot.”