It’s quite a lonely place in the female jockey rooms at Flemington, but for jockey Katelyn Mallyon, it will prove invaluable.
She and Melbourne Cup winning jockey Michelle Payne will be in the same room, prepping up for the day’s races together.
Mallyon has done what Payne couldn’t this year, getting a ride for the $6.2 million Melbourne Cup on Tuesday.
Walking the Birdcage enclosure on Saturday’s Derby Day, Mallyon admits she’ll be looking to Payne for advice.
“It’ll be me and her so yeah I’m sure we’ll have a couple of words,” she told AAP.
“It’s amazing what Michelle did last year.
“I hope that I can follow in her footsteps.”
Mallyon will be riding Assign, a Lloyd Williams-owned six-year-old gelding.
She’s excited about her chances.
“He’s definitely a big chance he’s had a faultless preparation,” she said.
“He’s going into the Cup better than ever.”
Her chances might improve hugely by Saturday evening.
The Melbourne Cup barrier draw will commence after the last race at Derby Day.
