G1 Melbourne Cup-winning jockey Michelle Payne is planning to launch her training career, although she has not retired from race riding just yet. Payne is still recuperating from pancreatic surgery following a fall in May and has applied for dual jockey-trainer license.
“I've been filling out all the paperwork and applying for my license this month, so hopefully in August, we'll be ready to go when the license comes in,” Payne told ATB TV.
Payne is still undecided about her future career as a jockey and appears reluctant to call it a day just yet.
Added Payne, “I've had a lot of time to plan retiring from riding, it's a big transition. You dedicate your life to being a jockey and it's very hard to give it away, walk away and do something else.”
It is clear however, that Payne was ultimately likely to end up training and she has been making the necessary preparations over the last few years.
“It's been a plan of mine for quite a few years now to get into training because I love racing,” concluded Payne. “I purchased a farm just next door to my dad's farm [in Ballarat] and I've spent the last two years setting it up as an agistment farm. Now I've put in place some plans to put in stables, a trotting arena, a round yard and some jumps. I think it's the perfect setup for training, so I'm looking forward to giving it a go.”
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