PAYNE & PASSION

New film tells the remarkable story of how a female rider beat the odds to make Melbourne Cup history

- MELISSA JONES

HOLLIE Doyle was still at school when Michelle Payne had her first ride in the 2009 Melbourne Cup.

Six years on she tried again – and became the first woman to win the ‘race that stops a nation’ in its 155-year history.

In front of more than 100,000 people, Payne pipped racing’s A-lister Frankie Dettori to the post on 100-1 outsider Prince Of Penzance.

The historic win not only grabbed the headlines, but her strong message aimed at the doubters did too.

Payne told them to ‘get stuffed’, as she took the limelight in a sport which she dubbed ‘chauvinistic.’

“As a woman, you have to work twice as hard as men to get the rides,” the 34-year-old said.

“You show up every day in tip-top condition – and that you can do the job as good as them, if not better.

The strong words struck a chord with filmmakers, who took the story to the big screen.

Ride Like A Girl, available to watch from the sofa for the first time this week, tells how Payne achieved her goal against the odds.