Trailblazing jockey Michelle Payne has officially joined horse racing training ranks.
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Payne has again earned a special place in the history of the sport by becoming one of the first jockeys to hold a trainer’s licence in Victoria while continuing to pursue a professional career in the saddle.
Racing Victoria announced Payne was one of the first to be granted the new dual licence, which became available at the start of August.
She joins Jade Darose and Rhonda Mangan with ability to train and ride at full scale race meetings.
Payne goes into training ranks alongside her brothers Patrick, who is based at Plumpton, and Andrew in Ballarat. Her sister Therese Patton. All have followed in the footsteps of their father Paddy.
Michelle has set up a training complex near Ballarat racecourse and has a small team to kick off her training career.
"I've got two unraced four-year-olds. They're nothing flash, but at least they're giving me something to muck around with.
"I'm really keen to give it a good go and I think it would be awesome to train your own and then ride them in races," Payne said.
Meanwhile, Payne continues to work towards a return to race riding after a race fall at Mildura in May.
Payne has been back riding trackwork for about eight weeks since recovering from pancreatic surgery, which was required as a result of the fall.
She has been riding horses in trackwork for Darren Weir, including Prince Of Penzance on which she won last year’s Melbourne Cup, and says her fitness is improving by the day.
Prince of Penzance launches his spring campaign in the group 1 Memsie Stakes at Caulfield on Saturday.
Harry Coffey takes the ride and becomes only the third jockey to steer the stayer in race. Hugh Bowman has also had one ride on him, with Payne filling all other engagements in the seven-year-old’s career.
Payne says she's hopeful rather than confident she will be reunited with Prince Of Penzance in the Melbourne Cup.