Michelle Payne back in the winner’s circle at Flemington

It was Payne’s fifth win since the horrific fall in Mildura in May that almost ended her career, and her first success in town since she won on Pattern at Flemington on January 16.

Payne, who has now won three city races since last year’s breakthrough Melbourne Cup success with Prince Of Penzance, has had limited opportunities in recent months.

But after a textbook ride on Tavi Bay, she praised the horse’s main owners, Shergar Thoroughbreds, for their support in putting her on the four-year-old.

“We need the opportunities and he (Brendan Tohill) has given me them, so I can’t thank him enough,” Payne said after driving the Henry Dwyer-trained Tavi Bay ($19) to the line, beating Spanner Head ($26) and Champagne Ready ($7.50).

“Henry has prepared her beautifully first-up, he is a great young trainer. He was confident she could get the money.

“The speed was very slow early and I didn’t want to give away my spot. I got on the back of ‘Ollie’ (Damien Oliver), got a beautiful ride and travelled really well.

“She went to the line really well.”

Dwyer said Payne had ridden the horse to perfection: “No one could have ridden her any better.”

“Brendan (Tohill) and the crew have got a fair few horses with me now. They were the catalyst behind Michelle being on the horse. I am happy to put Michelle on whenever, but they were the ones who said to me to put Michelle on. She rode a terrific race.”

Tavi Bay was first-up since a well-beaten eighth in the Queensland Oaks in June, but Dwyer was always confident in the daughter of Tavistock’s ability.

“We have always thought she was a Group class mare,” he said. “She didn’t get things to suit (in the Queensland Oaks), she didn’t handle the wet and didn’t get a great ride.

“We have had this race in the back of our minds for a long time. She is a mare that we thought might go through until Group class and that being the case a benchmark 70 would have been within her keeping.”