Jamie Kah takes the Lexus Melbourne Cup to Clare Valley

Returning to Clare Valley Racing Club was a special moment for the talented rider, as it was where she had her first and second winners. As a child, Kah didn’t know too much about the Melbourne Cup, so she was excited to be able to showcase the great race – and trophy – to the community of Clare, especially the younger generation.

As for the great race, it was watching Americain win the 2010 Melbourne Cup that sparked her ambition to claim victory in the race herself. “That was the first Melbourne Cup I actually watched,” she recalls. “When I started being a jockey, that’s probably the only time I thought, ‘I want to win a Melbourne Cup.’”

Now, as she reflects on what it would mean to claim victory in the prestigious race, Kah highlights its historical significance: “It's just – you’re part of history. Simple as that.”

From her early days riding ponies to her current position at the top of her sport, Kah’s journey shows that with dedication and belief, anything is possible. Oopy MacGillavray, trainer of The Map, who won a golden ticket into this year’s race, commends Kah as a role model. “She’s shown every little kid that hops on a pony or rides a horse that you don’t have to be a jockey, but you can believe that whatever you aim to do, you can  achieve.”