Melbourne Cup winner Michelle Payne is working towards a swan song race ride, amid a trial of a potential joint-training venture with brother Patrick.
Payne, a dual jockey and trainer in her own right, last year confirmed the 2023-24 season would be her last in the saddle.
Payne received special permission to renew her license last year – for the second time – despite not reaching the mandated 25-ride minimum threshold.
Nasty injuries and a hectic off-track schedule, training and social engagements, limited in-demand Payne’s time in the saddle.
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History-maker Payne, the first woman to win a Melbourne Cup, has race ridden only once this calendar year and 20 times since the current season started on August 1.
“I’m working towards that (farewell ride), see what happens I’ve got a couple months left,” Payne said.
“I’m feeling pretty fit and well, you never know what could be on the cards.”
Payne has about 10 horses in work out of brother’s private training property in Plumpton.
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Michelle Payne and brother Stevie with Patrick Payne-trained Bigolino at Sandown last Saturday. Picture: Vince Caligiuri/Getty Images
Aside from her own, including last start winners Smokin’ Princess and Judge Kellie, the 2015 Cup champion has represented brother Patrick’s stable at races the past 12 weeks.
“We’re just feeling our way a bit, see how we fit in together and make a plan from there,” Payne said of a potential future brother-sister partnership.
“I think I annoy him a bit, sometimes, but we get on pretty well, I know how he likes things done and respect his way of doing things.”
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Brother Payne has enjoyed working more closely with sister Michelle.
“In the past we had inflated opinions of ourselves,” Payne laughed.
“Like we’re too good for the other person, but now, as we’ve got older, we realised we’ve all got strengths and weaknesses.
“We actually complement each other, she’s been very helpful to us, I think we work well together, just got to work out the logistics of it (training partnership).
“She’s got in-depth ideas … not all of them are going to work but you’re an idiot if you don’t listen to a lot of what she says.”
Payne has a number of chances on the weekend, including Jimmy The Bear and Trosettee at Caulfield and The Open and Bigolino at Sandown.