By Adam Pengilly
Stevie Payne walked up to the lectern and the crowd roared. Perhaps bigger than when the gates flung open. Perhaps bigger than when the field passed the post the first time. Perhaps bigger than the reception for the winning trainer and first female jockey to win the Melbourne Cup, his sister Michelle.
Being a strapper has never been so cool. Stevie, who has Down syndrome, led his sister onto the stage for Saturday night's barrier draw, onto the track on Prince Of Penzance and then led her back into the winner's stall and Australian racing folklore. Has there been a more inspiring moment on a racetrack anywhere?
Darren Weir's stayer Prince of Penzance and Stevie are inseparable. And the same can be said for Michelle and Stevie at home. They live together, talk a little about horses and have got a couple of horses in the back paddock they hope will be able to run when Michelle blazes another trail when taking out a dual trainer-jockey licence next year.
"She's very clean and tidy and we talk about horses a little bit," Stevie said of home life. "We've got a few down in the paddock and we're hoping to get them going. But I liked seeing her win the Melbourne Cup."
Stevie Payne, left, with sister Michelle, trainer Darren Weir and one of the owners kissing the cup.Credit: Justin McManus
No doubt he did. And no doubt there will be plenty of media commitments to follow. Just like in the build-up to the Cup.
"I've had lots of messages," Stevie said of the lead-up to the Cup. "Channel 9, Channel 7, SBS [interviews]. And there will be a party in Ballarat."
Added Michelle: "Stevie can do just as good a job as any of the other staff at Darren's. It's just great he's been able to share this experience with me. We've always been so close and, being the youngest two of 10, we always got left to play on our own. It's so amazing to be able to share that with him."
As Prince Of Penzance's owners, almost stunned in the mounting yard after causing a shock to end all Melbourne Cup shocks, shimmied their way towards the winning stall, the only thing they could possibly say was, "100-1, 100-1". Yes, their horse had won at 100-1. And the little strapper?
Stevie Payne with his sister after Prince of Penzance took barrier number one at the barrier draw.Credit: Getty Images
"I had $10 each-way on him," Stevie said.
No wonder he is the most popular strapper in town.