Jamie Melham seeking landmark Shergar Cup winner

Jamie Melham already has a place in the history books but says she is “dying to ride a winner at Ascot”, as she prepares to lead the Rest of the World team in the Shergar Cup on Saturday.

Melham became just the second woman to ride the winner of the Melbourne Cup when victorious aboard Half Yours in the ‘race that stops a nation’ at Flemington in November.

Now the 30-year-old captains Japanese legend Yutake Take and India’s Suraj Naredu against the likes of Ryan Moore and Dylan Browne McMonagle in search of another famous day.

“It is very exciting to be back. It has been a few years since my first time, and a lot has happened to me in the meantime,” Melham said.

“Like a lot of jockeys, I like to tick things off the bucket list. I have not ridden a winner here yet, although I went very close down the straight track when I was here for my first Shergar Cup. Fingers crossed I can do something I have never done before, and that is ride a winner in England. It would be amazing.

“I have had a quick look at my rides and the weights I need to do – and it looks as though I can have a good breakfast on Saturday! The jockey coach, George Baker, reckons Stem in race three might be my best chance, but he thinks my other rides are OK too. One or two, or maybe three, winners would do me. I do not want to be too greedy! I am dying to ride a winner here.

“I know now that there are a lot of things I could have done differently last time. It is definitely a course where you need to not go too soon, while the wind is quite a factor down the straight, so you want cover behind the right horse.

“You do not want your horse to get interrupted and have to change course, so you need to plan ahead a lot. It is quite deceiving too. There are a lot of dips and rises, which you do not really see in Australia.

“Things have definitely changed for me since my big year last year. I am in the history books now as only the second female to win the Melbourne Cup, but us jockeys are greedy and I want more. I want to win another Melbourne Cup and more feature races.

“The next thing on my bucket list will be to come back and ride at Royal Ascot. I have been here to watch a few times, and it is incredible.”