Michelle Payne biopic Ride Like A Girl is racing towards becoming this year's highest-grossing Australian film after a strong opening weekend at the national box office.
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The Rachel Griffiths flick, starring Teresa Palmer as Ballarat-born Payne, raked in $1.7 million (across 269 screens) at the weekend, according to the Motion Picture Distributors Association of Australia.
Distributed by Transmission Films, the drama - which opened in first place - portrays Payne's journey in becoming the first female jockey to win the Melbourne Cup.
Ahead of the film's opening, Payne told The Courier she was proud to show off her hometown of Ballarat.
"It's nice to show off this beautiful city, including the Loreto chapel and the school - I'm a very proud Loreto girl - and I've definitely grown up in front of the (Dowling Forest) race course," Payne said.
Brother Stevie, who was by Payne's side as a strapper in her Melbourne Cup win aboard Prince of Penzance in 2015, plays himself in the true life story.
"(Stevie) is pretty easy-going. He takes it in his stride. He loves watching himself up there on the big screen," Michelle said.
"I think it's perfect how they've captured him in a really natural way for the story. He is really witty."
Romantic comedy Top End Wedding sits at the top of Australian films at the box office this year, earning $5.12 million after it opened at the start of May.
SEE PHOTOS FROM THE BALLARAT PREMIERE BELOW
- With IF Magazine
