Melbourne: Jamie Melham has created Melbourne Cup history by guiding Half Yours to a commanding win at Flemington, finishing three lengths clear of Goodie Two Shoes, trained by Ireland’s Joseph O’Brien and ridden by Wayne Lordan. Middle Earth secured third place in the two-mile race, which is widely regarded as ‘the race that stops a nation’.
Half Yours, the 8-1 favourite, surged ahead in the final stages to secure the win, adding to its Caulfield Cup triumph last month. The double victory made Melham the first woman to win both the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups in the same year.
The 29-year-old jockey expressed that the achievement was a dream come true after a challenging year, including a serious fall in 2023. Melham has described this win as the highlight of a remarkable season, which also included getting married and multiple track successes.
The victory carried personal significance, as Melham dedicated the moment to a late grandfather, a strong supporter of her racing career. She mentioned that the last event he watched was the Caulfield Cup, adding an emotional layer to her triumph.
The race, worth AUD 10 million (£5 million), remains one of the richest handicap events globally, where each horse carries a weight designed to balance competition. More than 80,000 spectators attended the 165th edition despite cold and wet conditions.
However, the Melbourne Cup continues to face scrutiny from animal welfare advocates due to past fatalities. Between 2013 and 2020, six horses have died as a result of injuries during or after the event, raising ongoing concerns about race safety.
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