Melbourne Cup winner Michelle Payne will realise another dream when she gets the chance to compete in her first Cox Plate.
Payne shot to international prominence two years ago when she became the first female jockey to win the Melbourne Cup on Prince Of Penzance at Flemington.
Today Payne will be legged aboard the Jane Chapple-Hyam-trained Kaspersky in another of Australia's most important races - the A$3 million Cox Plate at Moonee Valley.
Payne rode Kaspersky to fifth placing in the Queen Anne Stakes at the famous Royal Ascot meeting in England in June.
"The Cox Plate is one of my favourite races from growing up," Payne said. "I haven't missed a year, so to be out there on Saturday would be really special." Champion Winx is the $1.15 favourite to win her third Cox Plate, with rival connections realistic about the task ahead.