Payne finishes fifth on Ascot debut

Michelle Payne piloted Kaspersky to a respectable fifth place in the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot.

The 31-year-old Melbourne Cup-winning jockey was aiming to become the first woman to ride a winner at the Royal meeting in 30 years on the 66/1 shot, trained by British-based Australian handler Jane Chapple-Hyman.

Drawn in barrier three, two up from odds-on favourite and eventual winner Ribchester, Payne had the six-year-old colt well in contention in the closing stages on the straight mile track.

However, he didn’t quite have enough in the tank for a top-three finish but held on to grab fifth behind Mutakayyef, Deauville and Spectre.

The RIchard Fahey-trained Ribchester proved his worth as favourite with a dominant performance, dispelling any concerns about his ability on fast ground on a roasting hot day in the London area.

The 1600- metre race’s previous winners include Australian track stars Chosir, Takeover Target, Miss Andretti and Scenic Blast.