We didn’t really need another reason to love Melbourne Cup-winning jockey Michelle Payne – but she’s given us one.
And it’s all about the shoes.
Splashing through inch-deep water on a storm soaked Oaks Day in a segment being filmed for Sunday Night, presenter Mel Doyle pointed out both their shoes were soaked.
“What are we going to do with your beautiful shoes?” Doyle lamented as the pair sploshed their way through across the Flemington course.
"You're so funny - I'm so not worried about getting wet," Michelle replied. Because, you know, when you're up for training at 3.30am, rain, hail or shine, you probably don't care much about a bit of weather. "They'll be fine - they'll dry. You can't do anything about it."
So. Down. To. Earth.
Mel later swapped her heels for flats, but Michelle didn't seem to give a bugger. And to prove the point that yes, the shoes will be fine, she wore them again - presumably now dry - in a studio interview with Doyle about her family, life and motivation that aired last night.
Not such a girly girl, then?
"Yes and no," she told Doyle. "It's such a conundrum because I'm such a tomboy in so many ways, on the other hand, holding the cup on Tuesday because I've been so busy, I haven't had a chance to get a manicure or a pedicure for so long, and I just looked down at my hands when they're saying 'hold up the Cup' and thinking 'oh my god' ... it's like 'how embarrassing'."
