Payne 4th on return Michelle Payne finished fourth on her first ride back since suffering serious internal injuries in a fall at Mildura in May. Payne, who became the first woman to win the Melbourne Cup when partnering Prince Of Penzance last year, made her return aboard Lucky Liberty in a five-furlong handicap at Sale racecourse. She told www.racing.com: "It's great to be back. I felt when I was walking the track that I hadn't missed a beat. I felt really comfortable out there." She went on: "In the race it was a different story. Going out, there was a little bit of nerves, but once I got on the horse and was around behind the barriers chatting to the other jockeys and the barrier attendants I felt really relaxed. "I was really happy with how he went and how I went." Payne's next ride has yet to be finalised but she is hoping to team up with Prince Of Penzance again in the future. The seven-year-old finished sixth in a Group One event at Flemington on Saturday with the owners having previously expressed concerns about Payne's well-being and opting to give the leg up to John Allen instead. She said: "It's obviously a very delicate situation because I know that the owners are concerned for my welfare and I appreciate that and I can totally understand it as well. "But obviously I'd love to be back on his back. "I did drive Darren Weir (trainer) mad for a few days last week trying to get back on him for my first ride back in the Makybe Diva. "But they (the owners) don't owe me anything, neither does the horse, so I'll just see what happens and be appreciative of what I got in the past."
