Melham’s magic moment

Jamie Melham (then Kah) burst onto the racing scene in 2012 as if she were destined to break every riding record, and quickly. To many, it felt inevitable that she would one day take her place in the record books as the greatest female rider of all time, ticking off milestones along the way. 

In 2016–17, she set an Australian record for the most winners by a female jockey. In 2020–21, she became the first jockey to ride 100 winners in Melbourne in a single season.

What she had to wait for, though, was her name beside a winning ride in Australia’s most famous race – a delay that has only made her story more inspiring.

Just over a decade into her career, Melham became the first female jockey to win the Caulfield Cup when she partnered Half Yours to victory. Days later, she completed the coveted Cups double on the same stayer, becoming only the second woman to win the Melbourne Cup and just the tenth jockey – male or female – to achieve the double in the same season. She did it all by the age of 29.

That it took some time to do these things only added to the achievement. Along the way, Melham had experienced the full spectrum of a jockey’s life – serious injuries, the odd controversy, and occasionally a lapse in form. Through it all, she kept her head down and worked, her resilience reflected in an unflappable, no-nonsense approach to her craft.

When she won the Lexus Melbourne Cup, Melham understood exactly what she had achieved – and embraced it fully. 

“You cannot describe this feeling. I dreamt about it, I hoped for it, but nothing prepares you for this feeling,” she said.

“You grow up thinking, ‘I want to ride in the Melbourne Cup – that would be cool’. You don’t think it’s actually going to happen. You don’t expect to win it.”

In the afterglow of the victory, the essence of who Melham is shone through. Her love for her family, her loyalty to those who had stood by her, and her deep connection to the thoroughbred were unmistakable.

She was quick to deflect praise to Half Yours after the race, describing him as a beautiful animal and describing how he took narrow gaps in the straight without hesitation.

“He’s a legend of a horse. He is the perfect horse to ride in the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups, and he gave me the most incredible ride. He pulled up like an old pony. He just loved it. He has the best attitude. I just wanted to get off and give him a hug. What a champion.”

When she saw Half Yours’ co-trainer Tony McEvoy in the mounting yard, she hugged him, and her sobs of joy were audible.

She then headed to the Channel Nine commentary booth, where Michelle Payne – the only other woman to have won the Melbourne Cup – greeted her with a hug and a simple, “welcome to the club”. Payne was full of praise for Melham, saying she had started a revolution, encouraging young girls to become jockeys.

Melham then went in search of her parents, sharing a quiet, emotional moment with her mother, Karen.

At the press conference later that day, Melham paid tribute to Tony and Calvin McEvoy, describing them as a constant presence throughout her career.

“For 15 years, you’ve been by my side. I wouldn’t want to have done this for anybody else in this industry,” she said, noting that they had provided her with her first Flemington winner, her first Group 1 winner in Adelaide, and her 100th career victory.

She also acknowledged another pair who had supported her career – Janice and Col McKenna.

“I’ve got the Colin McKenna pin on my jockey vest. He would wear it on all of his suits. He rode the winner today,” Melham told Channel Nine.

The McKennas bred Half Yours and raced him before selling him late last year. A close confidant, McKenna spoke with Melham daily, and she had long described his support as invaluable.

Melham dedicated her win to her grandfather, Albert, who passed away in late October. The last race he watched was her Caulfield Cup victory.

A few weeks after the Cup, Melham’s enduring love of horses was on show again when she rode her quarter horse Hammer Time in a cutting exhibition on Zipping Classic day at Caulfield. Gifted to her as a teenager, Hammer Time had been earmarked for a cutting career before Melham committed fully to race riding –  but he has stayed part of her life ever since.

She has often said she knew from childhood that horses would shape her future. The fame and recognition that have followed are merely a by-product of that devotion.

She summed it up simply: “What job lets you be with your favourite animal, 24/7, every day of the week?”