Michelle Payne will always be remembered as the trailblazer who became the first female jockey to win the Melbourne Cup, but on Tuesday at Flemington, Jamie Melham carved out her own moment in racing history.

The South Australian rider became the first woman to complete the prestigious Cups double, guiding Half Yours to a stirring victory in the $10 million showpiece.

Just over two weeks earlier she had partnered the same horse to success in the Caulfield Cup, and the Tony and Calvin Mcevoy-trained gelding has now become the 13th galloper to complete the rare double.

Those two Group 1 wins stand as Melham’s only victories for the spring, but the significance and emotion of the achievement has not been lost on her.

“This is what we dream of when we first get our jockey licence. You just want to ride in the Melbourne Cup, let alone win it,” Melham said.

“It still hasn’t sunk in. The feeling is indescribable. We just won the best race in Australia.”

The 29-year-old has long been considered one of the country’s most gifted riders and has been rewriting records since first emerging in South Australia. Her first race winner came aboard Miss Fabuleux at Streaky Bay — also the hometown of Tony McEvoy — back in March 2012.

She claimed the Adelaide jockeys’ premiership the following season, when riding under her maiden name Jamie Kah, before a stint in Melbourne. After returning briefly to Adelaide and securing another title, she settled in Victoria permanently in 2019.

Her rise continued when she became the first woman to win the Victorian Metropolitan Jockeys’ Premiership in 2020/21, racking up 105 wins for the season.

Tuesday’s triumph was her 19th success at Group 1 level.

It was a deeply emotional moment for Melham, who recently lost her grandfather, a passionate supporter who watched her win the Caulfield Cup just before his passing.

“I have to mention my grandpa, he passed away last week,” she said.

“The last thing he watched was the Caulfield Cup. He was such a huge supporter. I know he was up there opening those gaps for me — and I needed them.”

Melham shared a poignant moment with husband Ben Melham, who rode Smokin’ Romans in the race.

“I said to him afterward, ‘I rode it exactly how you told me to’. We talked through the race 10 or 15 times yesterday. It just doesn’t normally unfold perfectly like that — but today it did.”

If you’re looking to have a bet on the Melbourne Cup, you can compare bookmakers via the Australian betting sites list.