Jamie Melham Named World’s Leading Female Jockey After Historic Melbourne Cup Triumph
Jamie Melham has been hailed as the world’s leading female jockey following her record-breaking Melbourne Cup victory aboard Half Yours, completing an unprecedented Cups double for the Australian rider.
Just two weeks after winning the Caulfield Cup on the same horse, Melham — formerly known as Jamie Kah — became the first woman in history to claim both of Australia’s premier Cup races. Her success at Flemington has sparked widespread recognition of her place among the global elite, with former Group 1-winning jockey David Taggart declaring her “the best female rider in the world.”
Speaking on SENTrack’s Melbourne Cup broadcast, Taggart reflected on Melham’s rise through the ranks:
“Her first four seasons as an apprentice, she took out the Adelaide title. She was riding four and five winners all the time,” he said.
“When she moved to Melbourne in 2019, it took a few months to adjust, but once she found her rhythm, she never looked back. She broke the metropolitan record with over 100 wins — that says it all.”
HerStory 🤩@jamieleemelham becomes the first female jockey ever to complete the Cups double, guiding HALF YOURS to victory in the 2025 Lexus Melbourne Cup.
— Victoria Racing Club (@FlemingtonVRC) November 4, 2025
🎥 @wwos | #MelbourneCup | #MelbCupCarnival pic.twitter.com/1PXMggTqVV
Since relocating from Adelaide to Melbourne, Melham has become one of the most consistent and respected riders in Australian racing. Her technical precision, composure under pressure, and natural feel for horses have earned her praise not just within racing circles, but across the wider sporting landscape.
Taggart went on to suggest that Melham now sits above international stars such as Hollie Doyle, noting that global opportunities may soon follow:
“I think she’s number one. I think Hong Kong will beckon for Jamie.”
Beyond racing, Melham is also deeply involved in the equestrian world, retraining and rehoming retired racehorses and competing in equestrian disciplines — a passion she has spoken about often. Broadcaster Campbell Brown suggested her long-term ambitions could even include representing Australia on the Olympic stage.
“She’s a great horsewoman,” Taggart added. “It takes years to produce horses at that level, but she has the patience, skill, and love for it. It’s what she was born to do.”
With her Cups double now secured, Jamie Melham’s achievements have reshaped the conversation around women in racing — not as exceptions, but as leaders at the very top of the sport.
