‘Nothing like it anywhere’
Soak up the parade, urges Payne
INSPIRATIONAL jockey Michelle Payne has urged Victorians to turn out in force for today’s Melbourne Cup Parade as the race that stops a nation stops traffic in the CBD.
The Melbourne Cup-winning jockey, who made history as the first female victor aboard 100-1 shot Prince of Penzance in 2015, said our famous race still gives her goosebumps.
And she said today’s parade along Swanston St to Federation Square was the perfect way for the public to celebrate the significance of a sporting event so good it commands a public holiday.
“It’s a lot of fun, a great atmosphere and I think it just builds all the excitement right up,’’ she said.
Tens of thousands of people will line the streets for today’s parade from noon, with several city roads closed and public transport diverted to make way for racing royalty and the $200,000, 18-carat gold Cup.
Payne’s triumphant Cup mount will join racing greats Might And Power, Brew, Rogan Josh, Paris Lane, Efficient and Maluckyday in the parade, starting at the corner of Swanston St and the Bourke St Mall.
Gai Waterhouse, Cup jockeys and trainers, national fashion on the field finalists, primary school children, dancers, musicians and the Mansfield High Country Horsemen will also take part.
Payne said Melbourne’s ability to make a week out of the Cup Carnival was peerless.
“There is nothing else like it,’’ she said. “It’s really special to hear all of the international trainers and owners come out here and just rave about how good it is, and it’s a bit of the Australian way as well.
“We’re very inviting to everybody and I think the build-up is just so unique that there is nothing like it anywhere in the world — and that is what everybody says.’’
She said next year was likely to be her last in the saddle but having pulled off a fairytale triumph once admitted the dream of adding another Melbourne Cup appealed.
“I don’t think I will ride past next year but I will just see how I go,’’ she said.
Tabcorp will process up to 11 million transactions on Cup Day with more than 5 million on the feature race and up to 3000 transactions per second at peak periods. Partly cloudy 17C Light morning shower 16C Partly cloudy 21C