Having her first ride at the world famous carnival, the Ballarat jockey nominated the Emirates Stakes at Flemington on the last day of Melbourne Cup week as an ideal race for Kaspersky. 

Payne, 31, gave the six-year-old a stellar ride in a hotly-contested opening race at the five-day meeting overnight on Tuesday, hitting the line strongly behind odds-on favourite Ribchester, which set a new track record.

Payne had Kaspersky in the frame for a place coming into the home straight.

However, she was not able to coax him into a minor placing.

Payne believes Kaspersky, trained by British-based Australian handler Jane Chapple-Hyam, can make a splash in Melbourne later this year.

"Obviously the pace was frantic, running a track record," Payne said.

"But he really went to sleep out of the barriers, we were happy with that because we wanted him to be hitting the line.

"Fifth in a group 1 against some of the best milers you could have thrown at you, so absolutely thrilled with that run.

"If he comes over for the old Emirates Stakes ... he's going to be a real live chance, so really rapt with the run. I'm just rapt that we ran a really respectable race and we're going to have some fun going forward."

Payne, who was aiming to become the first female rider to win at Royal Ascot in 30 years, said she would love to ride again at the most prestigious meeting.

"It was a huge thrill to be here and to run a good race. I was a bit surprised about the amount of media."

While that was her ride for the carnival, Payne will be back at Royal Ascot in August when she will take part in an international jockeys’ challenge, the Shergar Cup.

Payne will team up with Canada’s Emma Jayne Wilson and leading English apprentice Josephine Gordon.