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Stevie Payne, celebrated for his familial connection to Melbourne Cup history, made an appearance at Flemington Racecourse on Tuesday, accompanied by his girlfriend, Katherine Mansour.
In a candid revelation last month, Stevie expressed that meeting Katherine has brought unprecedented joy into his life, describing their relationship as a transformative experience.
A decade has passed since Stevie’s sister, Michelle Payne, etched her name into the annals of racing history with her Melbourne Cup triumph at the same venue. This year, Stevie and Katherine joined the Payne family at Flemington to commemorate that landmark win and witness another historic moment as Jamie Kah became only the second woman to clinch victory in the prestigious race.
The couple turned heads with their stylish appearance; Katherine donned an eye-catching floral dress in vibrant shades of purple, orange, and pink, while Stevie looked dapper in a navy suit paired with a light-blue tie.
Throughout the day, Stevie and Katherine were all smiles, soaking in the celebratory atmosphere. Stevie also took the opportunity to capture moments with his sister Michelle, adding to the day’s joyful ambiance.
Stevie Payne (right), the brother of former Melbourne Cup winner Michelle Payne, stepped out at Flemington on Tuesday alongside his new girlfriend Katherine Mansour (left)
The couple opened up on finding love last month, with Stevie telling News Corp that he and Katherine have a passion for dancing together
Stevie also stopped to pose for snaps with his sister, Michelle (left), at Flemington on Tuesday
Stevie, who has made his mark in the racing world as a strapper for trainer Darren Weir, has been open about his and Katherine’s burgeoning romance. Earlier this year, he shared glimpses of their bond on Instagram, posting images of the two dancing together.
It is understood that the pair, who both have Down’s syndrome, met on the dance floor at a racing gala.
‘Our favourite thing is dancing together,’ Stevie recently told News Corp.
‘We met on the dance floor. She makes me really happy. I love dancing and we love dancing together.’
Stevie played an important role in Michelle’s Melbourne Cup victory, working as Prince Of Penzance’s strapper while also drawing the stall No 1 ahead of the race.
The pair grew up in Ballarat as part of a large family, with horses being a hugely important part of their lives with their father being legendary horse trainer, Paddy Payne.
Michelle and Stevie stopped for photos during Tuesday’s race meet, with the former Aussie jockey donning a red gown with a stunning fascinator.
They embraced with a hug, with Michelle having previously heaping praise on her brother, claiming she could never have won the Melbourne Cup without him.
Stevie and Katherine met at a racing gala and have a shared love of dancing that brought them together
Stevie (centre) worked as Michelle and Prince Of Penzance’s strapper when his sister won the Melbourne Cup in 2015
Michelle, meanwhile, also sent tongues wagging that she may have found her leading man, as the trailblazing jockey sparked romance rumours stepping out with close friend Gabriel Ribeiro for the big day (pictured)
‘To have him on that day with me was unbelievable,’ she said.
‘I have such huge respect for him. He just seems to take it all in his stride. He’s hilarious and smart.
‘He’s had to navigate through life with his own challenges. He’s remarkable, just to see what he does and how he does it is amazing.’
The siblings were also seen sharing a hug during the presentation of the Melbourne Cup on Tuesday.
Michelle, meanwhile, also sent tongues wagging that she may have found her leading man, as the trailblazing jockey sparked romance rumours stepping out with close friend Gabriel Ribeiro for the big day.
She and Gabriel both stunned as they posed for snaps during Aussie racing’s big day. Gabriel donned a navy blue suit and a red chequered tie and was seen gazing into Michelle’s eyes in one image.
It comes after the pair had recently enjoyed a trip to Bali, with Gabrielle seen planting a kiss on Michelle’s cheek, while the pair lapped up the sun on a boat cruise.
Gabrielle was last month seen helping Payne paint fences at her family’s farm in Ballarat. She captioned a post of the pair: ‘Farm couple in action.’