Horse racing-Trailblazer Melham rides Half Yours to Melbourne Cup glory

MELBOURNE :Jamie Melham become the first female jockey to claim a coveted double in Australian horse racing when she rode Caulfield Cup winner Half Yours to victory in the A$9 million ($5.85 million) Melbourne Cup at Flemington on Tuesday.

Last month, Melham had become the first woman to win the Caulfield Cup in its 149-year history, guiding the Tony and Calvin McEvoy-trained Half Yours to an emphatic victory in the A$5 million handicap over 2,400m.

Under grey skies at Flemington, Melham brought her charge home three lengths ahead of runner-up Goodie Two Shoes with Middle Earth crossing third. Presage Nocturne, the 5/1 favourite, finished 19th of the 24 runners.

"Oh my god. This is what we do it for," said the 29-year-old South Australian, who raced as Jamie Kah until marrying fellow jockey Ben Melham this year.

"This is why we get up out of bed every morning, at 4 a.m. and work our arses off.

"The last 15 years I've been in this industry, it's tough. It's not all glorious and perfect, as everyone can see."

Ten years after Michelle Payne's breakthrough on Prince of Penzance, Melham became just the second woman to win the Melbourne Cup in the two-mile handicap's 165th running.

"I've had an amazing year, amazing year, got married, had some really great days on the track but nothing ever, ever compares to this feeling right now," she said.

"I've just won the Melbourne Cup."

GRANDFATHER OPENING THE GAPS

With rain drenching the track shortly before the race, five-year-old gelding Half Yours jumped from barrier eight at 8/1 odds and held back until the final turn.

Land Legend, ridden by Brazilian "Magic Man" Joao Moreira, was first to make a decisive break, storming eight lengths clear with 800m to the post before fading badly and