Half Yours ridden by Australian jockey Jamie Melham wins the Melbourne Cup horse race at the Flemington Racecourse Photo: AFP / WILLIAM WEST
Australian horse Half Yours has won the 165th running of the Melbourne Cup at Flemington Racecourse.
In an historic win, jockey Jamie Melham has become the second woman since Michelle's Payne victory on Prince Of Penzance in 2015 to win the Melbourne Cup.
Goodie Two Shoes placed second and Middle Earth came in third with River Of Stars fourth.
Half Yours was the race favourite after winning the Caulfield Cup with Melham in the saddle, and the only Australian-bred horse in the race.
The six-year-old gelding became the 13th horse to complete the Caulfield-Melbourne Cup double.
Melham is the first female jockey to achieve this feat.
HALF YOURS WINS THE MELBOURNE CUP! pic.twitter.com/dZtNSO9Z4x
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) November 4, 2025
"Oh my god. This is what we do it for," said Melham, who raced as Jamie Kah until marrying jockey Ben Melham this year.
"This is why we get up out of bed every morning, at 4am and work our arses off.
"The last 15 years I've been in this industry, it's tough. It's not all glorious and perfect, as everyone can see.
"I've had an amazing year, amazing year, got married, had some really great days on the track but nothing ever, ever compares to this feeling right now.
"I've just won the Melbourne Cup."
In an earlier race at Flemington, Race 4: 3YO Open, 1000m, New Zealand jockey James McDonald had his first win of this year's Melbourne Cup day.
On Pallaton, McDonald registered his 50th win of his career at Melbourne Cup Carnivals.
McDonald will donate his winnings to the fund to support apprentice jockey Tom Prebble - the son of former Melbourne Cup-winning jockey Brett Prebble - who has paraplegia from spinal injuries he received in a fall at Warrnambool in September.
The total prize pool for this year's race increased by $2 million from last year to $11.44 million.
- with ABC
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