Jockey Michelle Payne hinted at retirement in a seething Twitter post after learning she would not ride Melbourne Cup winner Prince Of Penzance when he makes his return at Caulfield.

Payne, who steered the 100-1 shot to Cup glory last year, is still on the comeback trail after suffering a horrific fall at a Mildura meet in May.

The 30-year-old was rushed to Melbourne’s Alfred Hospital for emergency abdominal surgery to repair her pancreas.

The news she would not partner the horse later this month appeared to anger Payne, who vented her frustration on Twitter before deleting the tweet.

Payne has not officially resumed her racing career but has been riding track work for several weeks, including a spell on Prince Of Penzance in a Casterton trial on Monday.

The horse finished well to claim third and, as a result, owners decided to aim for the 1400m Memsie Stakes on August 27 – earlier than anticipated.

But they will not be utilising the services of Payne – claiming it was “ridiculous” to expect she would be fit to ride in a Group 1 race by then.

Payne famously sent a message to some of Prince Of Penzance’s owners after her surprising Cup triumph last November.

“It’s [horse racing] such a chauvinistic sport, I know some of the owners were keen to kick me off, and John Richards [managing owner] and Darren [trainer Darren Weir] stuck strongly with me,” she said.

“I put in all the effort I could and galloped him all I could because I thought he had what it takes to win the Melbourne Cup and I can’t say how grateful I am to them.

“I want to say everyone else, get stuffed, because women can do anything and we can beat the world.”

Payne has been regularly riding for trainer Darren Weir since returning to track work and told Women’s Weekly last week: “There’s no reason I won’t race again.”

Payne celebrates her Melbourne Cup win. Photo: Getty

She also responded to a tweet on Monday which pondered whether she would be fit to ride Prince Of Penzance in November’s Melbourne Cup.

Payne wrote: “No pressure.. Not sure why everyone is panicking. A lot can happen between now and then. It’ll sort itself out.”

Payne, who has ridden Prince Of Penzance in 24 of its 25 starts, has led the horse to seven wins, six seconds and two thirds.

The decision to not give Payne the ride was widely slammed on Twitter, with Seven Network commentator Ryan Phelan calling the decision “un-Australian”.

One of the most un-Australian acts @mj_payne has lost the ride on Cup winner Prince Of Penzance.. Can owners be sacked? @7Sport

— Ryan Phelan (@ryanphelan_tv) August 10, 2016

The only time the Weir-trained horse was not ridden by Payne in a race was when star Sydney jockey Hugh Bowman took the ride in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes on Emirates Stakes Day in 2014.

Prince Of Penzance finished second on that occasion, 0.4 lengths behind winner Le Roi.

“She doesn’t even have a medical clearance”

Managing owner John Richards said that Prince Of Penzance would not have the best possible chance of success in the Memsie Stakes – which the horse ran eighth in last year – if Payne was on board.

“We will take it a race at a time picking our jockeys. We are well aware of Michelle’s great record on Prince Of Penzance,” he told the Herald Sun.

“At this stage she doesn’t even have a medical clearance to ride.

“It’s a Group One race and it’s a race he ran well in last year so we are trying to do the right thing and give him the best chance of winning.

“To expect that she would ride Prince Of Penzance in the Memsie is ridiculous.”

Payne also claimed two wins on Palentino last spring. Photo: Getty

He added that Payne should not be angry at the decision.

“She’s had medical advice not to ride again which she’s chosen to ignore. Her friends and family have also told her not to ride,” he said.

“We’ve taken these things into account. We’ve always had the best interests of Michelle at heart.

“She’s got to remember we have stuck with her throughout Prince Of Penzance’s career and we put her on in last year’s Melbourne Cup.”