For Melbourne Cup's new queen, Payne, life quickly returns to normal

History-making jockey Michelle Payne has been dealt a harsh reality check the day after becoming the first female rider to capture the 4.5 million US dollar Melbourne Cup, having to front up on Wednesday to ride in a country meeting at Kyneton, an hour north of Melbourne.

Less than 24 hours after her shock win aboard 100-1 outsider Prince of Penzance in Australia's greatest horse race, Payne was booked to ride in the Kyneton Gold Cup at 4pm, on another Darren Weir-trained horse, Akzar.

"I'm going to be a true professional and a good ambassador for our sport, and hopefully we can win another cup," Payne, 30, told Melbourne radio on Wednesday morning.

But doing hard work is always something that has always come easy to Payne, one of 10 children, who's had to battle through enormous adversity to reach the pinnacle of her sport.

Payne was born into a down-to-earth racing family in the regional Victorian city of Ballarat. Her father, Paddy, was a jockey in New Zealand before he settled down to train horses on their farm.

She grew up without her mother Mary, who was tragically killed in a car accident when she was a baby.

Her brother Stevie, who has Down Syndrome, is Prince of Penzance's strapper and has been a constant source of inspiration to the family, Payne said.

"Stevie's a blessing to our family, my dad says it all the time. We're just so blessed to have him," she said on Wednesday.

"They can be so capable in so many ways. Stevie is so smart and I just really hope that message gets out loud and clear."

Growing up, the Payne daughters were shown to have the ambition - and gritty temperament - necessary for life as a professional jockey, with Michelle becoming the fourth girl in the family to take up a career in the saddle.

In 2009, she became only the fifth female rider in Australian history to snare a Group One win, finishing first past the post aboard Allez Wonder in the Toorak Handicap for legendary 12-time Melbourne Cup winning trainer Bart Cummings.

Payne said she would be forever indebted and grateful to Cummings also known as the 'Cups King' - who was honored at Tuesday's 155th edition of the Cup after his passing in August - for bucking the often patriarchal traditions of racing.

"He was amazing for my career ... he stuck his neck out, and gave girls a go," Payne said.

In the barrier stalls, Payne took a quiet moment to herself to ponder whether Cummings and her mother were watching over her.

"Maybe both of them were up there (in heaven) and might of helped me get over the line," Payne said.

Payne almost never made it back to the saddle after a horrible fall in 2004 threatened to cut her career short.

Her injuries included a fractured skull and bruising of the brain, and following the scare her family pleaded with her give up the at-times dangerous sport.

But Payne wouldn't be swayed from the unshakeable belief that she was destined to win a Melbourne Cup.

"I've dreamed about it since I was five years old," she said.

"I always had faith in myself that I could do it, I don't know why I've always had a lot of self-confidence in my riding."

"I think it comes from my dad."

In the aftermath of her sensational win, Payne couldn't resist taking a potshot at those who had doubted her ability to perform on the big stage in what she considered a male-dominated, "chauvinistic" industry.

Payne said the critics of female jockeys could "get stuffed", in typically blunt Australian language.

She said she wanted to use the momentous occasion to get a "point across".

"I really hope that it helps with female jockeys, and not just jockeys but females in any sport and any aspect of life," she said on Wednesday.

Payne's ride on Prince of Penanze, for neighboring Ballarat trainer Darren Weir, was hailed as one of the best in recent history, with the 30-year-old receiving glowing praise from some of Australian racing's elite trainers.

"I had some messaged last night from (leading trainers) Gai Waterhouse and Lloyd Williams, and Lloyd said it was one of best rides he's seen in the Melbourne Cup," Payne said.

"That's pretty special for him to say that."

"I really believe you have to ride on instinct. I say that to Darren Weir all the time: 'Don't give me any instructions just let me ride the race'."

Which was exactly what she did on Tuesday - to astonishing effect. And, in the process, rode her way into the record books of the hallowed race. Endi