2026 MELBOURNE CUP CARNIVAL
OFFICIAL SOUVENIR MAGAZINE
DREAMS DO COME TRUE
ALL-NEW ES
THE LUXURY OF CHOICE ELECTRIFIED
LEXUS ALL-ELECTRIC RANGE
NEW RZ
Discover a range where technology meets surprise. Where elegance meets excitement. Where smooth comfort meets powerful precision. Where 20 years of electrified innovation meets an unrivalled ownership experience. Discover luxury that seamlessly coexists with performance, and choice becomes a matter of taste.
CONTENTS
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WELCOME
38 The art of training a winner T he Melbourne Cup isn’t won on the first Tuesday in November – it’s won in the months of planning that lead up to it. 42 Giddy up, FISHER is back L ast year FISHER turned Flemington into Australia’s biggest open-air dancefloor. This year, he’s back to do it all again. 44 Three generations: one racing dynasty F rom a sheep farm on the Eyre Peninsula to the winner’s circle at Flemington, the McEvoy family’s story is one of Australian racing’s finest.
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VRC Chairman Neil Wilson
VRC Chief Executive Officer Kylie Rogers
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese Victorian Premier Ben Carroll
FEATURES
12 Agenda: What to see, know and do this Carnival Your at-a-glance guide to what’s new at Flemington this Cup Week.
1 6 Jamie Melham … the Cups Queen
47 15 years ago: 2011 Dunaden The closest finish in Flemington history, revisited.
Hard work, guts and determination have seen Jamie Melham rise to the peak of her sport.
22 A century of Phar Lap Australian racing has seen champions come and go, yet 100 years on, Phar Lap still stands above them all. 28 Let him entertain you! R obbie Williams brings his BRITPOP World Tour – and the party – to Flemington this November. 30 Fortune favours the horse Five Melbourne Cup winners, five different eras – one thing in common: they all won in the Chinese Year of the Horse.
48 A recipe for success M elbourne is ranked among the world’s great food cities – and nowhere brings that to life quite like Flemington in Cup Week. 52 Writing the record books F rom Phar Lap’s jockey to the Queen of the Cups, thirteen Australian riders who didn’t just win races – they changed history. 56 One million kilometres and counting F rom outback roads to Kyoto, New York and France, the Lexus Melbourne Cup’s 24th tour visited 37 destinations this year. 60 Glory was all theirs F or Tony McEvoy, the horse came first, then the owners followed, drawn together from different walks of life.
33 5 years ago: 2021 Verry Elleegant A look back at Verry Elleegant’s Cup-winning year.
34 The quiet heroes of the track Behind the barriers and along the rail, clerks of the course keep horses, jockeys and crowds safe when things don’t go to plan.
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64 A Garden grown from a Cup win F or 25 years, a waterfall sat quietly near Flemington’s roundabout. Now it’s the heart of the Prosperity Garden.
87 30 years ago: 1996 Saintly
Bart Cummings’ tenth Cup win, remembered.
90 Rising from the ashes L indsay Park knows resilience firsthand – bushfire tore through its Euroa property, testing the stable in ways no training manual could.
65 20 years ago: 2006 Delta Blues Japan’s first Melbourne Cup winner, remembered.
66 A day in the life of ... B ehind every horse that steps onto the track is a team that’s been at work since well before dawn. 70 W inning takes a team Ciaron Maher runs one of Australian racing’s biggest operations. We went inside to meet the people who keep it running. 74 A champion's next challenge Z aaki’s remarkable second career has taken the beloved champion from the racetrack to the eventing arena.
93 90 years ago: 1936 Wotan
The 100/1 shot who defied the odds.
94 Icons of the Cup From the gold in the trophy to the car parks, the fixtures that make the first Tuesday in November what it is. 96 Backing a winner TAB is proud to bring the ultimate racing and sports entertainment experience to Flemington for the Melbourne Cup Carnival. 98 Shoeing the stars It’s one of racing’s most physical, least glamorous jobs, but John Bunting wouldn’t trade it for anything. 100 Old instincts, new insights W ith the technology available to stables today, is the trainer’s eye still as important as ever? 104 A place to call home T hrough its partnership with the VRC’s Pin & Win campaign, Ronald McDonald House Victoria & Tasmania supports families when they need it most.
77 25 years ago: 2001 Ethereal Sheila Laxon’s trailblazing Cup win, twenty-five years on.
78 Fit to ride A look at the fitness, discipline and training behind the silks.
82 Colour by design R acing colours are among sport’s most recognisable signatures, but behind every set of silks is a system of rules and design. 84 Three minutes in the mounting yard W hen Half Yours won the 2025 Lexus Melbourne Cup, the world witnessed a moment of pure joy.
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CONTENTS
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On the cover: Jamie Melham kisses the 2025 Lexus Melbourne Cup, won aboard Half Yours. (Daniel Pockett/Getty Images) Publisher: Adele Pace Editor: Celia Purdey Design/Art Direction: Creative Pixel
108 A sparkling tradition There are few sounds more evocative of the Melbourne Cup Carnival than the pop of a champagne cork. 112 Show ponies W e look back at 2025’s Carnival style, celebrating the fashionistas who brought their very best to the field.
2026 MELBOURNE CUP CARNIVAL
OFFICIAL SOUVENIR MAGAZINE
DREAMS DO COME TRUE
118 Catwalk to Carnival
2026 Melbourne Cup Carnival Magazine is published by the Victoria Racing Club Limited. (ACN 119 214 078).
Where the runway meets the racetrack.
122 Crafting a Carnival look S ome of Flemington’s best-dressed choose to rework, rebuild and reuse, stitch by stitch, sometimes over years of trying. 126 The beauty of race day Preparation for Cup Week begins long before the gates open, in fitting rooms, milliners’ studios and hairdressers’ chairs. 130 A stitch in time Since the first Melbourne Cup was run in 1861, Flemington has given fashion one of its greatest stages. 140 Above and beyond In an age of the disposable, the craft behind Carnival millinery endures. 142 An enchanted evening A s Melbourne heads toward another Carnival, the country’s milliners have already had their moment in the spotlight.
All contents are copyright and cannot be reproduced without the written consent of the publishers. The Flemington, Melbourne Cup, Melbourne Cup Carnival and VRC logos, “Melbourne Cup”, “the race that stops a nation”, and “the celebration that stops a nation” are trademarks of Victoria Racing Club Limited. Copyright of the logos and other content in this magazine is owned by Victoria Racing Club Limited or used under licence from third parties. All rights reserved. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised that the following articles may contain images and the name of an Indigenous Australian who has since passed. VRC photography courtesy of Getty Images, Racing Photos, Lucas Dawson Photography, Igor Sapina and other sources as listed.
For all membership enquiries, please contact VRC Membership Service on 1300 727 575.
144 100 years ago: 1926 Spearfelt
The centenary of a champion sire’s Cup win.
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CONTRIBUTORS
Kristie Clements is an author, journalist, and former editor in chief of Vogue Australia. Her memoir of three decades in fashion publishing, The Vogue Factor was an international bestseller. Her latest book is called Why Did I Buy That? Fashion Mistakes , Life Lessons .
Dr Andrew Lemon AM is the VRC’s consultant historian, author of the three volume History of Australian Thoroughbred Racing and a former president of the Royal Historical Society of Victoria. In 2012 he held a John H. Daniels research fellowship at the US National Sporting Library and Museum in Middleburg, Virginia.
Michael Lynch was a senior sports writer with The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald . In a career that began in the UK in 1980, he has also covered finance, politics and industrial relations.
Michael Manley is an award-winning racing writer who has worked at the Herald Sun, The Age , the Geelong Advertiser , and Mediality Racing. Michael also has a keen interest in horse ownership and breeding. He had a Flemington winner with the first horse he raced, Precious Poppi, way back in 1993.
Sarah Marinos has been a journalist for 30 years. She originally worked in London before migrating to Melbourne and writes features for national magazines and newspapers.
Joe McGrath of the VRC is a former editor of Inside Racing and Publishing Manager of Racing Victoria . In more recent times, Joe oversaw the Lexus Melbourne Cup Tour since its inception in 2003 and has grown up with racing ever since he can remember.
Celia Purdey is an editor and writer who has worked on everything from children’s books to bridal magazines but is fortunate enough to now focus on racing. From a family whose passion for the sport goes back generations, some of her earliest memories include country racetracks and the lawns of Flemington, so writing about the subject feels like a natural fit.
Mick Sharkie has worked in racing media across print, television and radio for over a decade. As well as freelance media work, Mick consults on a number of strategic and creative projects in and out of the thoroughbred ecosystem.
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WELCOME
to travel to Melbourne to compete on the first Tuesday in November. International runners continue to be an important part of the Lexus Melbourne Cup, and this year we have some exciting international stars who've won their way in by securing a Golden Ticket guaranteed entry into Australia’s greatest race. The seven- year-old stayer Tawny Port from the USA secured his start in the Lexus Melbourne Cup after winning the two-mile Group 2 Belmont Golden Cup at Saratoga in New York. Daiquiri Bay and Defiantly delivered standout staying performances in Europe, winning the Ebor Handicap at York Racecourse and the Group 2 Prix Kergorlay at Deauville Racecourse respectively, to secure their Golden Tickets. While these international contenders have secured their place through the global Golden Ticket series, local hopefuls have also stamped their credentials on the road to the Lexus Melbourne Cup through Flemington's qualifying races. Glen Thomson trained Whiskey On the Hill secured a Golden Ticket winning the Lexus Roy Higgins on 28 March, while the Grahame Begg trained Zakouma earned his place with victory in the Lexus Andrew Ramsden on 16 May. As the road to the Lexus Melbourne Cup continues a further six Golden Tickets remain on offer through the VRC Lexus Archer Stakes, the VRC Lexus Bart Cummings, the Geelong Cup, the MRC Caulfield Cup, the MVRC Moonee Valley Gold Cup and the MVRC Cox Plate. While we will see a new champion enter folklore this Carnival, it also gives us an opportunity to celebrate one of the biggest icons in Cup history, the legendary Phar Lap, who celebrated his 100th birthday earlier this year. On August 1, we paid homage to the champion, naming the opening race day of the 2026-27 racing season in his honour and curating a special exhibition showcasing rare memorabilia, images and artefacts of the 1930 Cup winner. This exhibition will be on display in The Park at Flemington throughout the Melbourne Cup Carnival, so please make sure you take the time to view it when you're visiting Flemington. Momentum for the Carnival has been strong throughout the year, due in no small part to the Lexus Melbourne Cup Tour, now in its 24th year. This year, the Cup will have
travelled to 37 destinations, many of them local communities right across Australia. This year, I had the privilege of attending Darwin, a very special visit, as this year's Lexus Melbourne Cup has been handcrafted using only Northern Territory gold, now valued at over $1 million. I will never cease being proud and amazed to see people's reactions when they see the Cup for the first time, it’s incredible to witness the impact the Cup has across our communities. What makes our Carnival truly unique is how we honour tradition while embracing what's new in fashion, entertainment and Victoria's culinary scene. This year, we've announced new partnerships with Asahi Beverages and Lucas Collective, bringing new offerings to everyone at Flemington, from General Admission through to Members and the Birdcage. Fashions on the Field has also been extended by a day, commencing on TAB Turnbull Stakes Day, with the winner going straight through to the final on Oaks Day. The Melbourne Cup Carnival will once again unearth new heroes, deliver heart-stopping finishes, and produce iconic moments etched in our memories and the history books forever. We cannot wait to see the world's best horses, jockeys, trainers and breeders converge on Flemington to contend for eight Group 1 titles and more than $32 million in prizemoney. On behalf of the VRC Board and the committed, and very talented VRC team, I would like to take this opportunity to thank our loyal VRC members, racing participants, commercial partners, Racing Victoria, the Victorian Government, the media, and, of course, the 300,000 racegoers we expect to welcome over the course of this year’s Carnival. Enjoy all the action, colour and excitement Cup Week has to offer. It truly is a special time in Melbourne, and I know the eyes of Australia and the world will be watching and celebrating every moment with you. I look forward to welcoming you to Flemington.
I t is widely acknowledged that few sporting events carry the prestige and history quite like the Melbourne Cup Carnival. Each spring, that history comes alive again at Flemington, as tradition, fashion, entertainment, and some of the world's finest horse racing is conducted across four unforgettable race days as the next edition of Australia’s original major event unfolds For one week each spring, Melbourne plays host to the world, with our city becoming the backdrop while centre stage is reserved for the finest equine and human athletes to grace the turf, all vying for some of the most coveted titles and trophies in Australia and the world. Last year, we saw crowds of over 286,000 come to Flemington across the four days, with attendance in the 18-29 age bracket reaching its highest level since 2015. In addition to the exciting racing across four days, the Carnival plays a key role as an economic driver both here in Victoria and throughout Australia. In 2025, the Carnival generated a record $533 million of Gross Economic Benefit in Victoria, supporting local jobs and industries such as fashion, hospitality and travel. We know it is not just Victoria or Australia that celebrates our Carnival, the Lexus Melbourne Cup is renowned across the world. This year, we celebrate 20 years since Delta Blues became the first Japanese horse to win the Lexus Melbourne Cup, famously holding off his stablemate Pop Rock by the smallest of margins. The one-two finish was a significant moment in Japanese horse racing and paved the way for a new generation of contenders
Neil Wilson Chairman
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WELCOME
While world-class racing remains at the heart of everything we do, we are equally focused on delivering exceptional experiences across food, fashion, entertainment and hospitality. When it comes to entertainment, it simply doesn't get any bigger than global music icon Robbie Williams, who will headline The Elms Live Stage, presented by Macca's, following the final race on Lexus Melbourne Cup Day. Joining him is international superstar FISHER, who returns to Flemington after delivering a standout performance last year. His Off The Rails set on TAB Champions Stakes Day promises to provide a spectacular close to the Carnival. The Elms Precinct has become an integral part of the Melbourne Cup Carnival experience, creating unforgettable moments and delivering a vibrant festival atmosphere for racegoers. We are also delighted to welcome Lucas Collective as a major new hospitality partner, bringing three of Melbourne's most celebrated dining brands, Society, Chin Chin and Yakimono, to Flemington. Guests can look forward to exceptional culinary experiences that reflect Melbourne's renowned food culture. In further exciting news, Carlton Draught returns to the Melbourne Cup Carnival for the first time in more than 20 years. This follows our new partnership with Asahi Beverages, whose market-leading portfolio will enhance the experience for members and guests not only during the Carnival, but throughout the racing season at Flemington. The world-famous Birdcage Enclosure will burst into bloom this year with the theme, ‘Garden of Gardens’. Each Spring, the Birdcage transforms into a spectacular destination unlike any other, bringing together innovation, design, hospitality and entertainment. In 2026, VRC partners including Lexus, Crown, TAB, G.H. Mumm, Nine, Tequila Don Julio and Asahi Beverages will create extraordinary bespoke destinations defined by bold design that celebrate the sophistication and excitement of Cup Week. Through a series of vibrant and immersive garden-inspired spaces, members and guests will be invited to explore new worlds of creativity, connection and celebration, capturing Spring Racing at its most glamorous.
Returning to the Front Lawn, the 64th Lexus Fashions on the Field will once again showcase the very best in racing style. Following the exceptional standard set in 2025, we look forward to seeing the creativity and elegance that competitors bring this year. The Park will also return as an equine wellbeing hub, welcoming families and racegoers while featuring horses from Living Legends and Racing Victoria's Off The Track program. It serves as an important reminder that the horse remains at the heart of everything we do. On behalf of the Victoria Racing Club, thank you to our members, partners, participants, team and racegoers for your ongoing passion and support. Your contribution helps make the Melbourne Cup Carnival a success. I look forward to celebrating another safe, successful and unforgettable Melbourne Cup Carnival with you.
A s we welcome you to the 2026 Melbourne Cup Carnival, there is a genuine sense of anticipation and excitement across Flemington. Each year, the Carnival continues to evolve, proudly honouring its rich heritage while introducing new experiences that capture its energy and reinforce its place as one of Australia's most celebrated sporting and cultural events. This year is no exception, and we are incredibly proud to present a Carnival that elevates every aspect of the experience, both on and off the track. Racing continues to enjoy remarkable momentum, highlighted by the success of the 2025 Melbourne Cup Carnival. Last year saw our largest crowds since 2018, outstanding broadcast audiences, and record wagering turnover across both the Lexus Melbourne Cup race day and the Lexus Melbourne Cup itself. We witnessed many unforgettable moments, none more memorable than Jamie Melham becoming just the second woman to win the Lexus Melbourne Cup aboard Half Yours, exactly ten years after Michelle Payne's historic triumph. The achievements of 2025 have provided a strong foundation, and the 2026 Carnival is poised to be even bigger and better. This year's four-day Carnival will feature 37 thrilling races, including eight prestigious Group 1 contests. At its centre is the iconic Lexus Melbourne Cup, now worth an extraordinary $10.2 million, alongside a record- breaking $1 million trophy. Together, they help drive total Carnival prizemoney beyond $32 million, further cementing Melbourne Cup Week as one of the world's premier racing celebrations.
Kylie Rogers Chief Executive Officer
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WELCOME
MESSAGE FROM THE PRIME MINISTER
I t’s my pleasure to welcome you to this year’s Melbourne Cup Carnival – and another year of fashion, fun, and thrilling racing, here in Australia’s sporting capital. Whether it’s here on the track at Flemington, on the sacred turf of the Melbourne Cricket Ground, or centre court of Rod Laver Arena, nowhere in the world does sport quite like this city. The Melbourne Cup has truly earned its title of ‘the race that stops a nation.’ And, just like the iconic cup itself – this year, featuring Northern Territory gold, Western Australian jarrah, and Sydney craftsmanship – this carnival captures the imagination of Australians everywhere. Of course, the Melbourne Cup Carnival proudly brings Australia to the world, too. From Kyoto to New York and Deauville in France, this year’s Melbourne Cup Tour has shared the energy and excitement of spring racing well beyond our shores – all while raising money for our local communities. I know you’ll feel that same energy and excitement here at Flemington. Here’s to another fantastic Melbourne Cup Carnival.
The Hon Anthony Albanese MP Prime Minister of Australia
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WELCOME
MESSAGE FROM THE PREMIER
W elcome to the 2026 Melbourne Cup Carnival. On the first Tuesday in November, people across Victoria, Australia and the world come together for the race that stops the nation. Across four great days, the Carnival brings the very best of racing, food, fashion and entertainment to Flemington, and gives us yet another chance to show our great state off to the world. This year will be a historic one, with Flemington hosting the Cox Plate meeting for the first time, featuring the Moonee Valley Gold Cup, a race that lands the winner a golden ticket into the Melbourne Cup. Victoria’s racing industry supports thousands of jobs, local businesses and communities right across our state. Thank you to everyone who makes it possible, from the trainers and jockeys to the ground staff, members, sponsors and hospitality workers. The Melbourne Cup is one of the biggest events on our state’s calendar and a proud Victorian tradition. If you’re visiting Victoria for the Carnival, I hope you take the time to get out and experience everything our state has to offer. Whether you’re at Flemington or watching on the TV at home, enjoy this year’s Melbourne Cup Carnival.
The Hon Ben Carroll MP Premier of Victoria
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AGENDA WHAT TO SEE, KNOW AND DO THIS CARNIVAL
New venues, old favourites back for another year, and a headline act or two. Here’s what’s changing, returning and playing at Flemington this Carnival.
FISHER returns for Off the Rails
International DJ FISHER is back on the Elms Live Stage, presented by Macca’s, for TAB Champions Stakes Day. When the last race is run, the rails open for his now- legendary Off the Rails party.
Robbie Williams headlines the Cup!
Global superstar Robbie Williams will perform at Flemington on Lexus Melbourne Cup Day, opening with a pre-Cup set in the Mounting Yard before returning to close the day on the Elms Live Stage. It’s Williams’ first Australian performance ahead of his BRITPOP World Tour.
Read more about these two epic entertainers on pages 28 and 42.
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Fashions on the Field - Bigger, bolder, better
A fast-track to the final. Winners of Best Dressed and Best Suited at TAB Turnbull Stakes Day now go straight through to the Crown Oaks Day Grand Final – no waiting for a later heat. A brand-new category. A fifth competition debuts on TAB Champion Stakes Day. The Remix is built around three ideas: rewear, rework and restyle. It’s a fresh category shaped by conscious fashion choices. 21 years of Emerging Designer. The Emerging Designer Award, presented by Vogue Australia, marks its 21st anniversary in 2026, celebrating two decades as one of the most credible launchpads in Australian fashion. Bigger prizes across the board. Best Dressed and Best Suited are each worth more than an incredible $95,000, including a 50g ABC Bullion Gold Bar and a Royal Ascot hospitality experience for two in 2027. The Lillian Frank AM MBE Millinery Award winner gets a bespoke commission for the 2027 Royal Ascot Millinery Collective, with a London Fashion Week launch, and the design entering Ascot Racecourse’s permanent collection.
Entries for the design and creative categories open 1 Sept and close 2 Oct.
For more information on Melbourne Cup Carnival Fashions on the Field presented by Lexus, visit vrc.com.au/fashions-on-the-field
Head down to the FOTF precinct throughout the week to watch it unfold or put your own look forward. Turn to page 116 for inspiration, history and the moments that have made carnival fashion iconic.
Pin & Win is back for another year, offering fantastic prizes while raising money for Ronald McDonald House Victoria and Tasmania. Since 1995 the campaign has raised more than nine million dollars for charity, and this year ’ s support goes towards an organisation that gives families with seriously ill children a home away from home when they need it most. Turn to page 108 for Melissa and Nick ’ s story and see firsthand the difference this money makes.
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Chin Chin on Flemington’s Front Lawn Chin Chin, one of Australia’s most recognisable and energetic dining institutions, will take over a pocket of Flemington’s famous Front Lawn. Positioned beside the buzzing Fashions on the Field Pavillion, the seated dining activation will offer a curated menu of Chin Chin classics designed for racegoers who want an elevated experience without missing the action.
The Byerley, reimagined
Yakimono takes over
Dining by Society takes up residence in the Byerley for Cup Week, bringing a refined new dining experience to Club Stand Members. Executive Chef Joachim Lim has curated a European-inspired menu paired with an extensive wine and beverage list, served at reserved tables with private seating just outside the restaurant – close enough to watch the racing, removed enough to enjoy the meal.
Melbourne’s Yakimono brings its high-energy Japanese eating house to The Birdcage for 2026. Members and guests can expect the same electric atmosphere that’s made the restaurant a city favourite, condensed into a dedicated retail station beside the live stage – fast, punchy Japanese bites built for grazing between races.
Read more about the brains behind Society, Yakimono and Chin Chin, The Lucas Group, on page 48.
A new lobby for the Club Stand
The new Lobby Bar in the Club Stand’s east lounge is designed to provide Members an additional hospitality destination, with easy access to the front lawn and Betting Ring. It’s another way for Members to make the most of their membership, giving you more room to gather, unwind and make a day at Flemington your own.
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Head to The Park for Flemington’s relaxed side
Food A variety of food and drink options will be available throughout The Park, with plenty of choice for racegoers looking to grab a quick bite, settle in for a meal or enjoy something sweet. Expect a mix of casual favourites, international flavours and refreshing drinks. Meet the Legends Run in partnership with Racing Victoria, RDA Victoria and Living Legends, the Equine Wellbeing Hub in the Park gives visitors a closer look at the care behind the sport – and the chance to meet, pat and feed the horses themselves.
Breakfast with the stars
Watch dawn break over Flemington as the Melbourne Cup Carnival’s leading contenders stride out for their final paces. The VRC Trackwork Breakfast returns for 2026, giving members and racing fans a rare look behind the scenes as Flemington’s top trainers put the world’s best thoroughbreds through their paces. Watch from the Terrace Restaurant and Hill Stand deck, with coffee, tea and an egg and bacon roll included.
To find out more visit vrc.com.au
Three legends, one visit
Step inside the stories of three of Australia's greatest racehorses with exclusive exhibitions at Flemington. 'The Perfect Run' traces Black Caviar's unbeaten 25-start career through trophies, memorabilia and a photo gallery of every win. Nearby, a centenary exhibition honours Phar Lap. And in the Hill Stand, 'Makybe Diva: Queen of the Cups' marks the first Crown Makybe Diva Stakes Day since the great mare's passing, with her ashes on public display for the first time alongside all three of her Melbourne Cup trophies. Find 'The Perfect Run' in The Forum, 'Phar Lap: A Century On' in The Park, and 'Makybe Diva: Queen of the Cups' in the Hill Stand.
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FEATURE
Hard work, guts and determination have seen Jamie Melham rise to the peak of her sport. The Pony Club kid from the Adelaide Hills has come a long way … Jamie Melham ... the Cups Queen
W hen Jamie Melham streaked across the finishing line and won the 2025 Lexus Melbourne Cup, there were a couple of things on her mind. Her thoughts turned to her beloved grandfather, Albert, who’d died only a week earlier – but not before watching his determined granddaughter win the prestigious Caulfield Cup. As Jamie weaved her way through the pack on Lexus Melbourne Cup Day in November 2025, she felt that Albert was providing some divine intervention. “He was such a big supporter of mine. He was up there opening those gaps for me, because I needed a few gaps opened,” she said shortly after becoming the first female jockey to win the Caulfield- Melbourne Cup double. Jamie’s other thoughts were for Half Yours – the Tony and Calvin McEvoy- trained horse that had carried her to glory during both big races. “He’s a legend of a horse and he gave me the most incredible ride. He has the best attitude. I just wanted to jump off, not talk to anyone and give him a hug! What a champion,” she said. And when she looked back at the field in those final strides, the magnitude of what she’d done hit her all at once. “I just remember those last two strides – looking
back and thinking, we just beat that whole field, beat everyone in Australia, pretty much. This is the best race in Australia, in my opinion. And I thought, well, I’ve actually done this.” Jamie’s triumph during the 2025 Spring Racing carnival was built on years of hard- earned success. Since the girl from the Adelaide Hills first sat in the saddle of her beloved pony, Bessie, she’s had an affinity with horses. “I grew up on horses. At 18 months old, Mum would lead me around on a miniature pony while my friend from daycare was pushed along in a pram,” said Jamie. Formerly Jamie Kah, she married fellow jockey, Ben Melham, in January 2025. Jamie’s equestrian career began when she joined One Tree Hill Pony Club and Mount Pleasant Pony Club and began showjumping. In 2010, at the age of 14, she was selected for the Pony Club Australia International Mounted Games team and travelled to the UK to compete. She won a series of national and international titles with Bessie. “A lot of people go right into being a jockey, but I think my equestrian background has had a big influence on my riding style,” she said. Those mounted games, in particular, sharpened an instinct she still draws on today. “Every [mounted]
WORDS SARAH MARINOS
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FEATURE
(Daniel Pockett/Getty Images)
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Jamie Melham has been on the back of a horse since she was a toddler, making her the spectacular horsewoman she is today.
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FEATURE
“I had my first gallop at Gawler racetrack one morning and the adrenalin rush was amazing. I’d never experienced anything like it. I was hooked. Mum and Dad were a bit concerned but they’ve always been by my side,” she said. race, you’d have to switch onto a different horse – you didn’t get any time to get to know them, you just swung on and had to go and race. I think I just got really used to jumping on any horse and getting a feel for them in the first two or three seconds. And that’s what you do in race riding.” When she was 14, Jamie’s future began to fall into place when she got a part- time job at the stables of trainer John MacMillan. By the age of 15, she knew her future lay with horses – specifically, the racing industry. Jamie convinced her parents, John and Karen, to let her leave school to start a jockey apprenticeship and they understood her passion and yearning to follow her dream. The couple are former speed skaters who chased their own dreams when they represented Australia at the 1992 Winter Olympics in the French Alps. During the first six months of her apprenticeship, Jamie rode 40 winners. In her first full season in 2012/13, she won the Adelaide Jockeys’ Premiership – the first apprentice to do so in almost 20 years.
By her 18th birthday, Jamie was celebrating 163 wins, and she won the Adelaide Jockeys’ Premiership another three times before a move to Melbourne in 2019. It was also in 2019 that she first rode in the Lexus Melbourne Cup, aboard Prince Of Arran. She didn’t win – but it left a mark. “Just to make it to the race was the most special thing. I crossed the line and just saw all the people in the big marquees, and it felt like I’d won the Melbourne Cup, the way the crowd cheered. That was the most incredible feeling – until, obviously, winning it.” Her winning streak continued. She became the first jockey – male or female – to ride 100 winners in a single Melbourne Metropolitan season when she ended the 2020/21 season with 105 first places. “That was probably one of my real favourite moments I’ve ticked off,” she said. In April 2021, Jamie also won the $3 million Group 1 Doncaster Mile at Randwick on Cascadian and became the first female rider anywhere in the world to clinch a Group 1 win for Godolphin. That year she became the only female to rank in the Thoroughbred Racing Commentary’s top 100 jockeys globally. The wins kept coming – but so did the challenges that tested Jamie’s mettle and showcased her resilience and dedication to her profession. In September 2021, Jamie was suspended by the Victorian Racing Tribunal for breaching strict COVID-19 lockdown rules during a gathering at an Airbnb rental on the Mornington Peninsula. Racing Victoria officials claimed she gave them misleading information about the incident and she was initially suspended for five months. Jamie appealed and the ban was reduced to three months. Her focus was on ‘moving forward’ and getting back to doing what she loved. In March 2023, Jamie faced a much tougher and potentially career-ending battle when she had a severe fall at Flemington. She tumbled from her mount, Flyball, during the Sires’ Produce Stakes and was left with bleeding to the brain and several breaks to her body.
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FEATURE
Doctors at the Royal Melbourne Hospital placed Jamie in an induced coma for five days while family and friends anxiously awaited her recovery. Jamie was left with no recollection of the accident but five months later, she was back in the saddle and it wasn’t long before she was back in the winner’s circle, too. It was the horses themselves, she says, that carried her through the darkest days of her recovery. “After my fall, the horses got me through. I used to just go out there and sit next to my horse all day – it makes you feel safe. It’s so amazing that I get to do this every single day and call it a job.” Before her fall, Jamie was due to ride In Secret in the Group 1 Newmarket Handicap. She was replaced by Dean Holland who won the race and paid tribute to Jamie and her courage. Tragically, a month later, Dean himself had a fatal fall at Donald racecourse in Victoria. In 2024, Jamie returned to win that Group 1 race on Cylinder and honoured Dean’s memory. “This is for Dean Holland. I couldn’t imagine anyone riding that horse as well as he did last year and hopefully, he is watching down on us today. He was just an amazing person and it just makes me appreciate being here,” she said. She speaks similarly of close friend Col McKenna, who passed away before seeing Jamie reach the heights of her career. She carried his badge on her vest during the Lexus Melbourne Cup. “I absolutely believe there are a few people out there looking after me, and Col’s one of them. Gaps have come for me on the track that probably shouldn’t have – I think he’s got something to do with that.” The Caulfield Cup win, she says, was the moment the nerves truly settled. “After he won that, I just felt like, OK, I’ve ticked off a major. The pressure sort of lifted off my shoulders.” By Melbourne Cup morning, she was remarkably calm – motivated, in part, by those who doubted Half Yours’s ability to stay the trip. “I like when people – and experts and scientists – doubt you,
because you go, alright, sweet, I’m going to prove them wrong. I was in a very good state of mind that day.” Husband, Ben, was one of her Lexus Melbourne Cup competitors, finishing 14th on Smokin’ Romans, and they also made history as the first married couple to compete against each other in the big race. The two had planned out their rides together that morning and for once, the plan played out almost perfectly. “Races don’t normally go how you expect them to be run, and that race was just absolutely perfect – exactly how we’d spoken about it.” There was even a funny moment mid- race, when Jamie drew alongside Ben and, without quite realising it, said to him: “It’s OK honey, it’s just me.” She laughs at the recollection. “Normally I’m screaming and yelling at him, so I must have been feeling nice at that time.” As well as Ben and her family, the first Australian woman to win the Melbourne Cup, Michelle Payne, was quick to congratulate Jamie on her success. Michelle romped home on Prince Of Penzance in 2015, paving the way for talented female jockeys like Jamie. "I've got tears in my eyes," Payne said on Nine after the race. "She has revolutionised racing and she is so beautiful to watch." By the end of May 2026, Jamie had 1,377 wins, including 20 Group 1 wins, and had earned over AU$114 million in prizemoney. Her passion for riding and for horses shows no signs of ebbing away and when Jamie isn’t on the track, she’s an advocate for giving retired racehorses a second lease of life. She has taken a series of former racehorses and trained them to be showjumpers, including Dollar for Dollar whom Jamie rode throughout the thoroughbred’s career. She put her hand up to buy him when
“I ’ ve got tears in my eyes,” Payne said on Nine after the race. “She has revolutionised racing and she is so beautiful to watch.”
his track career came to an end. “I genuinely love horses and am
excited to showcase the athleticism that thoroughbreds are capable of,” she said. As esteemed female jockeys, like Linda Meech, Pam O’Neill, Michelle Payne and
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Clare Lindop, inspired the young girl from South Australia, Jamie hopes her hard work and success inspire the next generation of female jockeys. “There are a lot of good female apprentices coming through and I think that women are now treated equally in the sport,” she said. “I have had people come up to me and tell me I’ve inspired their young daughter – and I love that.” And when she sees the little girls at show jumping events on Sundays, running up to tell her they have a pony too, that they want to be just like her – she knows exactly what it means. “Even if I stop racing one day, I’ll be able to say, I made that kid proud. I made that younger generation want to get into this industry because of me. And that’s really important.” As for what comes next, Jamie’s ambitions still burn brightly. Half Yours is being aimed at the Cox Plate, and she’s clear-eyed about the challenge ahead. “There are always good horses in this industry and there are a few stars that have stepped up recently – that’ll be a tough race to win. But Flemington’s his favourite track. Well, it’s definitely my favourite track too, so hopefully we can tick that off as well.” The Lexus Melbourne Cup win has also changed the texture of everyday life. “Everyone knows you now – just little things, like going down to the shops and people running up to you.” But it’s the global reach of the race that still stops her in her tracks. “You can go overseas and people know about the Melbourne Cup. They might know nothing about racing, but they know you’ve won it. It makes you feel like you’ve got a legacy now. It’s going to be in the history books for life, and they can’t take that away from me.”
Embracing Michelle Payne after her Lexus Melbourne Cup win.
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A CENTURY OF PHAR LAP
Australian racing has seen champions come and go in the last century, yet Phar Lap still stands above them all.
WORDS JOE MCGRATH
O n the 28th of October, 1926, a scrawny, nondescript chestnut colt was born in a tent outside Timaru, New Zealand, at Seadown Stud. He was bred by Alick Roberts, who owned the stud and stood the stallion Night Raid, a modestly performing son of Radium who traced back to Carbine on his dam’s side. By Night Raid out of Entreaty, the new colt was described as tall, lean, and common or plain. By the time he was presented for sale 15 months later, he had warts dotted across his face. None of which would attract the most optimistic of purchasers. He was sold as Lot 41 at the 1928 Trentham Sales, Wellington, to Hugh Telford for 160 Guineas, acting on behalf of his brother, Harry, a battling horse trainer from Sydney. But as famous as this was at the beginning of Phar Lap’s story, it was merely an appetiser for what was to become one of the greatest rags-to-riches stories in Australian sport. Maybe therein lies the reason for his greatness. Here’s a horse with a nondescript pedigree, nothing to suggest he would be capable of taking on the blue bloods of the turf. But he did, and he won – often. At one point, 36 from 41 starts. This year marks the 100th anniversary of his birth, and he remains the benchmark for greatness in Australian racing. His legend continues to permeate the Australian vernacular when someone is said to have ‘a heart as big as Phar Lap’.
A unique compliment reflecting the values of a champion who, anatomically, had a heart one and a half times the size of a normal horse. 6.35 kg, to be exact. But while size was one thing, and he did stand at 17.1 hands high, it was his sheer brilliance and determination that set him apart from all others. But 100 years on, one must ask: is Phar Lap still the greatest horse to race in Australia? With the emergence of trailblazers such as Makybe Diva, Black Caviar and Winx in recent years, has his story been somewhat surpassed by the current generation of superstars? Well, the simple answer to that is ‘no’. He’s still the best and arguably the most significant racehorse this country has seen. Bred in New Zealand and purchased by an Australian for an American owner, David Davis, his story is embedded in the Australian psyche. What Bradman is to cricket, Phar Lap is to Australian horse racing. But maybe it’s the circumstances surrounding his achievements that enhance the legend, away from the raw statistics. For the record, he won 37 races from a career total of 51 race starts, for £66,738. After being unplaced in his first four starts, he broke his maiden at Rosehill in a six- furlong Maiden Handicap. In a somewhat misquoted remark, his jockey on that day, Jack Baker, would be recorded forever as saying, ‘He might be alright. He goes well, but I don’t think he’ll stay.’
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His heart weighed 6.35kg – one and a half times the size of a normal horse’s heart.
Phar Lap with strapper Tommy Woodcock, whose bond with the champion became part of his legend. (Bettmann/Getty Images)
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Phar Lap had many nicknames, with 'Big Red', one of the most popular. (Australian Racing Museum)
In fairness to Baker, Phar Lap showed little early on to excite the racing pundits, and even his greatest admirer and trainer, Harry Telford, was unconvinced that his judgment would be vindicated. Finishing last at his first start had connections scratching their heads. But patience is a great thing in racing, and as 12-time Melbourne Cup-winning trainer Bart Cummings once stated, it is seldom used. Phar Lap came back as a spring 3YO, and following a fourth to Limerick in the Warwick Stakes (9 furlongs) at Warwick Farm at his fourth start, he began to catch the eye of racing scribes. He also caught the attention of Jim Pike, the champion rider, who quickly sought to secure him as a mount for the upcoming spring features. As the races started to get longer, this once scrawny colt, now a gelding, came into his own. He began to fill out his frame, build muscle, and adopt an imposing presence. But arguably his greatest asset was his temperament. As regular and champion race rider Jim Pike once said, ‘It is sacrilege, really, to ride some horses after once having been on the back of
Phar Lap. He was a phenomenon, a treat to ride, and a kind and generous fellow throughout the race’. Along with his heart, the length of his stride was also imposing. Just shy of 8 metres at its peak. The average stride length for a racehorse is 6 metres. While running an unruly third in the 1929 Melbourne Cup as a 3YO behind Nightmarch, ridden by the legendary Bobby Lewis, it would be the Flemington spring meeting of 1930 that would become the platform for his legendary status. Easily accounting for four other runners, Phar Lap would win the Melbourne Stakes (1¼ miles on Derby Day) on the first day of the spring meeting. He would then start the 8/11 favourite in the Melbourne Cup (2 miles) on day two, despite carrying the impost of 9 stone 12 pounds. He would become the shortest- priced favourite to win the Cup in the history of the race. He would then back up two days later in the Linlithgow Stakes (1 mile) on day three, before securing the C.B Fisher Plate (1½ miles) on the fourth and final day of the meeting. There was no betting on the Fisher Plate.
The only horse to win four races across the four days of the 1930 Flemington spring meeting.
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No horse has ever achieved the feat before and none since. If for no other reason, Phar Lap’s winning sequence over eight days against the best on offer demands the highest praise. But with Phar Lap, there is more to it. His arrival came at a time when Australia, as a nation, was on its knees. Outside of World Wars I and II, it was arguably the start of the toughest economic period in Australian history, the Great Depression, triggered by the US stock market crash of 1929. Just over 30% of the workforce was unemployed, and the Great Depression had set in. There was little to get excited about, and Phar Lap became a welcome distraction. He became the bright light on what was clearly a dark horizon. His 1930 Cup victory was surrounded by high drama, having been shot at only days before in Manchester Grove, adjacent to Caulfield Racecourse, following
trackwork. It had all the hallmarks of a gangster movie, with the good guys looking to outmanoeuvre the not-so-good guys. Naturally, it was all about money, with Phar Lap set to empty the bags of bookmakers had he secured a Melbourne Cup victory. After winning the Melbourne Stakes on Derby Day, he was taken to VRC Committeeman Guy Raymond’s St Albans Stud in Geelong. Three days later, he arrived at Australia’s biggest racing event, the Melbourne Cup, with a police escort. However, he nearly missed it because the horse float wouldn’t start. His story had all the hallmarks of a thriller: drama, suspense, brilliance, and romance. Romance, in that Australians loved Phar Lap. He was their hero. He also had an inseparable bond with his handler, Tommy Woodcock, who knew Phar Lap better than anyone. The groom’s Melbourne Cup trophy, presented each
year by the VRC, is named in honour of Tommy Woodcock. But ultimately, Phar Lap’s story is about the ugly duckling turning into a swan, more noticeably a colossus that took on all comers and made them look second-rate in the process. They changed the rules of racing to curtail his success, yet still couldn’t beat him. After a sequence of autumn victories, including an extraordinary win in the Futurity Stakes at Caulfield, Phar Lap would return to Flemington in 1931 in an attempt to win back-to-back Cups. However, with an allotted 10 stone 10 pounds, the task was somewhat beyond even the master. The previous highest weight to victory was his forebear, Carbine (1890), carrying 10 stone five pounds. Under the watchful eye of Jim Pike, he was protected, and when the task appeared insurmountable, he was eased to finish eighth.
Crowds pack the Flemington straight to watch Phar Lap's historic 1930 Melbourne Cup win. (VRC Collection)
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At the request of owner David Davis, Phar Lap departed soon after for Mexico, where he took on the world’s best in the Agua Caliente Handicap. Again targeted by his opposition, he won with ease. He was now a global force, and Davis was well aware of the spoils that would come with it. However, sixteen days later, in circumstances shrouded in mystery, he would be dead. A conspiracy, perhaps. Phar Lap suffered a bout of colic as a result of arsenic poisoning. News reached Australian shores soon after 5th April, 1932, from the US: “Phar Lap is dead,” read the headlines. The silence across the nation was deafening. Australians would once again be forced to their knees. Once
a sign of hope, it was now a source of the cruellest heartbreak. The legacy of Phar Lap is now shared across the broader community, with his hide at the Melbourne Museum, his skeleton at the Te Papa Museum in Wellington, and his heart at the National Museum in Canberra. The Melbourne Museum exhibit is the number one attraction at Victoria’s premier historical institution and will commemorate his 100th anniversary with an exhibition throughout 2026. He is a legend and deserves all the accolades. His story is as fascinating to this writer now as it was when he was a teenager. How can one horse be so good? Simple. His name is Phar Lap.
Won the 1930 Melbourne Cup as the shortest- priced favourite in the race’s history, carrying 9 stone 12 pounds.
Phar Lap's eight-day winning streak captivated a nation in the grip of the Depression. (VRC Collection)
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