Champion jockey Michelle Payne announced on Saturday that she is expecting her first child with her partner, Gabriel Ribeiro. The 40-year-old shared the news via Instagram, posting a photo of herself with Ribeiro and an ultrasound image, captioned "Little love is coming."
Payne, who made history in 2015 as the first woman to win the Melbourne Cup, typically keeps her private life out of the public eye. She and Ribeiro have been together for just over a year, having met through mutual friends in racing circles. They confirmed their relationship publicly after a trip to Bali and have since been living together on Payne's farm.
Payne's victory in the 2015 Melbourne Cup was a landmark moment in racing. Following her win, she delivered a powerful speech addressing criticism of female jockeys, stating, "I want to say to everyone else, get stuffed because they think women aren't strong enough, but we just beat the world."
Details about Payne's family life also emerged, including her decision to potentially sell her family farm to her brother, Stevie. Payne and Stevie had purchased the property together in 2013. Stevie, who owned a third of the farm and lived in a separate cottage on the property, had been exploring a move to Melbourne to be closer to his girlfriend, Katherine. Payne expressed understanding for her brother's decision, noting his happiness in his new relationship.