History was made at Flemington as Jamie Melham became only the second female jockey ever to win the Melbourne Cup, steering Half Yours to victory in the 2025 edition of the iconic race.
Ten years after Michelle Payne’s legendary 2015 win, Melham achieved her own slice of racing history by also becoming the first woman to claim both the Caulfield Cup and the Melbourne Cup — a remarkable Cups double that cements her place among the sport’s greats.
The five-year-old gelding, trained by Tony and Calvin McEvoy, stormed home over the 3200-metre distance on a soft Flemington track to take the $7.57 million feature. Half Yours started at odds of $9 and ran a perfectly judged race, positioning mid-field before surging clear in the final stretch.
Goodie Two Shoes, trained by Joseph O’Brien and ridden by Wayne Lordan, finished second, 2.75 lengths behind the winner, while Middle Earth and jockey Ethan Brown took third place. River Of Stars, under Beau Mertens for Chris Waller, came in fourth.
“I can’t believe it – I’ve won a Melbourne Cup,” Melham said in disbelief after dismounting. “As a kid this was the dream, and for it to come true is just amazing. The horse was travelling so well, and even when the gaps weren’t that big, I knew he’d find a way through.”
The race favourite, Al Riffa, failed to fire and finished midfield despite strong betting support leading up to the Cup.
For the McEvoy training partnership, the win marked a career highlight and continued their reputation for producing big-race performances. For Melham, however, it was a moment that transcended sport — a celebration of perseverance, talent, and a new chapter in Cup history.
