Champion jockey Michelle Payne is set to become a mother, revealing she is expecting her first child with partner Gabriel Ribeiro. The 40-year-old Melbourne Cup-winning jockey announced the news via an Instagram Story on Saturday, sharing a photo of the couple alongside an ultrasound image.
“Little love is coming,” Payne wrote, tagging Ribeiro in the post. The announcement marks a new chapter for the racing icon, who has largely kept her personal life out of the spotlight.
Relationship and New Chapter
Payne and Ribeiro, who connected through mutual friends in racing and equestrian circles, have been together for more than a year. The pair publicly confirmed their relationship following a trip to Bali and now live together on Payne’s farm near Ballarat after Ribeiro relocated from the Gold Coast in late 2025.
Historic Melbourne Cup Victory
Payne etched her name into Australian sporting history in 2015 when she became the first woman to win the Melbourne Cup, riding Prince of Penzance to a stunning upset victory. Her emotional post-race speech, in which she called out critics who doubted female jockeys, became one of the defining moments in Australian sport. “I want to say to everyone else, get stuffed because they think women aren’t strong enough, but we just beat the world,” a beaming Payne said in the minutes after her win.
Overcoming Adversity
The youngest of 10 children, Payne was raised by her father after her mother died in a car accident when she was just six months old. She has overcome a series of serious injuries throughout her career, including a life-threatening fall in 2016 that split her pancreas, tore her liver, and fractured vertebrae, requiring emergency surgery.
Post-Retirement Focus
After retiring from race riding in 2024, Payne shifted her focus to training from her Ballarat base. The pregnancy announcement signals a new chapter for the trailblazer, who continues to inspire the racing community and beyond.
