History making jockey Michelle Payne will undergo more tests at The Alfred Hospital in Melbourne today after falling from her mount Dutch Courage at the 600m in the BenchMark 58 Handicap at Mildura on Monday.
Melbourne Cup winning jockey Michelle Payne underwent tests after a fall at Mildura. Photo by Sarah Ebbett.
Payne was cleared of any breaks at the Mildura Hospital but was complaining of internal pain so she decided to transfer to Melbourne for further tests on her pancreas and liver.
“Off to the Alfred tonight to check out Pancreas and liver. Through the vest,” Payne tweeted last night.
Payne gained worldwide stardom when she became the first female jockey to win Australia’s most famous race, the Group 1 $6m Emirates Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington, on $101 outsider Prince Of Penzance during the 2015 Melbourne Spring Carnival.
Following her Melbourne Cup winning ride, Payne was swamped with social and riding engagements including an invitation to ride at Royal Ascot, Ireland, France and Sweden in June, but the trip will now depend on her recovery from her injuries.
Payne had already ridden in Ireland and France and she is looking forward to returning to Europe and riding in Sweden for the first time.
“(I’m) heading to Sweden for their version of the Shergar Cup which will be really exciting, on the 19th of June,” Payne told racing.com.
“I can’t wait to go over there and see what it’s like.
“It’s been great since the Cup, I’ve been given so many great opportunities that I’ve been able to enjoy.
“I’ve ridden in England and Ireland and France before and it was just amazing, so can’t wait to go back over and experience it again.”
Payne was reunited with the Darren Weir trained Prince Of Penzance last Saturday at Morphettville and at his first run since winning the Melbourne Cup ran a mighty race to finish second to stablemate Tonopah in the Group 3 $150,000 Robert & Fay Gerard R A Lee Stakes (1600m).
And Payne was having a great day at Mildura before her fall and collected two winners and three seconds for her brother Patrick Payne.
