Melbourne Cup's new princess Michelle Payne delivers defiant message

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History-making Michelle Payne hopes her stunning win at the Emirates Melbourne Cup will blaze a trail for other female jockeys in the sport. Payne, 30, became the first women jockey to win 'the race that stops a nation' in its 155 year history after riding 100-1 outsider Prince of Penzance to glory at Flemington on Tuesday. And afterwards, Payne delivered a blunt message to the naysayers who have doubted whether women could ride the big races. "To those who say women aren't strong enough, get stuffed... women can do anything and we can beat the world," she said.

Payne's success, unsurprisingly, dominated the front pages of every Australian newspaper on Wednesday morning. "Cup Queen" screamed the headline on the front cover of the Herald Sun, while the Australian ran "Prince of Penzance delivers our first Cup princess." Over 100,000 racegoers turned out at Flemington to witness the historic moment Payne cross the finishing line first to win the $6.2million race for trainer Darren Weir and a bunch of owners led by Stawell identity Sandy McGregor.

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