Payne's new heights: Sweet Rockette the first city winner that she had trained and ridden

For anyone in Australian racing, nothing tops winning the Melbourne Cup.

But history-making jockey Michelle Payne – who became the first woman to score in Australia's greatest race when she rode the shock 2015 winner Prince Of Penzance – came as close as she could to replicating the emotion of that momentous Flemington day at Moonee Valley on Saturday.

Payne was on cloud nine after she took out the MSC Signs Plate aboard another outsider, the $19 shot Sweet Rockette.

Michelle Payne rides Sweet Rockette to victory.

Michelle Payne rides Sweet Rockette to victory.

The race was minor in comparison, but the achievement for the 32-year-old rider was almost as enormous as Sweet Rockette was the first city winner that she had trained as well as ridden.

And what made it even more memorable is that she achieved it aboard a lightly raced filly who is owned by an all-women syndicate which includes her sister Maree, a former jockey, and film star Rachel Griffiths and friend Susie Montgomery, who are respectively directing and producing the movie of Payne's life, Ride Like A Girl.

Sweet Rockette showed plenty of grit to take the prize under her determined jockey.

After drawing a wide barrier she had to travel on the outside of the field and come with a late charge to down the heavily backed Godolphin favourite Multaja, who started at $1.60.

Payne was all smiles as she came back to a rapturous reception from her female crew, and all concerned have plenty to look forward to with this daughter of Fastnet Rock, who looks to have plenty of upside.

The jockey admitted after that this achievement was not far behind the greatest day of her life.

''It's right up there. We have to do all the work at home. I have got an amazing team at home, all the girls work around the clock to do what I ask which is a little bit pedantic at times with some of the things, but I feel unless you are giving it 100 per cent why are you doing it?

''The Melbourne Cup is the pinnacle, this is right behind it,'' she said with a broad grin.

She had hoped to get another jockey, sister Cathy, into the ownership but revealed the latter had been talked out of it by her husband, leading male rider Kerrin McEvoy.

''I was really trying to get my sister Cathy, but Kerrin talked her out of it. He said a lot of the Fastnet Rock's have got bad legs and they break down. I said I loved her, and I rang her five times and she kept saying no I am not allowed. Unfortunately Kerrin pulled rank.''

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