Meet ITV Racing’s new Royal Ascot pundit Michelle Payne who has ‘Stink’ nickname

Michelle Payne will join ITV Racing coverage of Royal Ascot this week – and is sure to make thousands of new fans.

The 37-year-old jockey has hit the headlines both on and off of horseback during her glittering professional career and even been awarded the Order of Australia.

Payne has gone from tragically losing her mother and suffering brain bruising after an early fall to making history at the Melbourne Cup before moving into punditry.

Now set to join the British coverage of one of the biggest race weeks on the calendar, Daily Star Sport have taken a look at her inspiring story.

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Growing up on a farm near Victoria, Australia, Michelle was one of 10 siblings raised by father Paddy after her mother Mary was killed in a motor vehicle crash when her youngest was just a baby.

As a child, Payne formed her dream of being a champion jockey and even told pals that she would one day win the Melbourne Cup, despite a woman never doing so.

As a young rider, Payne fractured her wrist and suffered brain bruising after a nasty fall, but bounced back to win her first major race at the Caulfield Racecourse in 2009.

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It was six years later at the 2015 Melbourne Cup where she would gain global recognition, winning two races including the titular showpiece on Prince of Penzance.

The victory was the first by a female jockey in the 155-year history of the race, despite her being an 100/1 outsider.

She said at the time: "Just want to say to everyone else, can get stuffed, because they think women aren’t strong enough but we just beat the world."

Her nickname of 'Stink' was soon made public thanks to her older brother Patrick, with Michelle insisting that she got the name because she was: "Really cute and good at school."

Her brother joked later in the year: "It's unbelievable, especially after watching Michelle play sports at school.

"She was a like a baby elephant, she just had no skills whatsoever, but she learned to ride really well and kudos to her being able to do so well despite not being a natural athlete."

Payne had to undergo surgery a year later after suffering severe abdominal injuries in another race fall, with urgent surgery on a torn pancreas.

In 2016 Payne also picked up the Don Award at the Sport Australia Hall of Fame, but faced a race ban in 2017.

Payne tested positive for the drug phentermine in June of that year, a banned appetite suppressant, pleading guilty to be handed a four-week suspension.

She said: "The onus is 100 per cent with me … I regret not seeking more guidance, I wasn’t thorough, and that is completely my fault. My sincere apologies to everyone."

Another huge moment came in 2019, as the story of Payne's life was made into a feature film called, Ride Like a Girl, which starred famous actor Sam Neill as her father.

With eyes now on coaching and punditry, Payne is set to give her expertise at Royal Ascot alongside the ITV Racing team including Ed Chamberlin.

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