Sam Payne rides winner for grandfather Paddy

Sam Payne says he grew closer to his grandfather Paddy following the sad and sudden death of his mother in 2007.

Now, more than a decade on from Brigid's passing, the 27-year-old jockey has become the first grandson of the Payne family patriarch to ride him a winner.

It's another special chapter in a rich family history in racing, which is highlighted by Michelle's victory in the 2015 Melbourne Cup aboard Prince of Penzance.

Sam's success wasn't on the big stage at Flemington, but his win aboard Ronay at Ballarat on Sunday still held plenty of significance.

"He's only got a couple in work so it's not like he has a big stable. And everyone else in the family has ridden a winner for him so it's nice being a grandchild to ride a winner for him as well," Sam, a former St Patrick's College student, said.

Sam said Paddy, in his usual dry style, didn't provide too much feedback after the win.

READ MORE: Payne family hit by tragedy

"You could tell he was proud, but he didn't say too much.

"Stevie (Payne) takes full credit (for) strapping," he joked.

Sam was just 14 when his mother, who was also a jockey, died suddenly.

"After Mum passed away grandad did a lot to help me. He put me through school," he said.

"It's really nice to be back home and now I'm a lot more mature he's telling me the stories about Mum...Sam Payne

"I definitely did become a lot closer with grandad and with the time I spent in Queensland, it's really nice to be back home. And now I'm a lot more mature, he's telling me the stories about Mum... it's really nice.

"I couldn't do that when I was younger. Obviously it's pretty raw, but now I'm older and more mature, it's nice to be able to ask him all the questions about my mother's riding and stuff like that."

Sam said his mother was always hesitant about him taking on a career in the saddle, but would be proud of what he's accomplished so far.

"Funny enough, she never really wanted me to ride," he said.

"She knew that I was going to be tallish and just always wanted me to keep my options open.

"Considering that everyone else rode, she knew that it was probably going to be inevitable."

Since riding his first winner at Narrandera in 2008, Sam has had stints in and out of the saddle, but believes he's now well placed to forge a long and successful career as a rider.

He will reunite with Ronay today in the Porter Plant F&M BM64 Handicap (1400m) in Ballarat, aiming for back-to-back victories on his home circuit.