Racing
Melham cops big ban over Cup Day fall
Melbourne Cup-winning rider suspended for 30 meetings.
Melbourne Cup Day was a life-changing one for Jamie Melham, but it had a costly post-script with the star jockey suspended for a ride late in the meeting.
Melham was on Wednesday handed a 30-meeting suspension for her part in the incident that saw Blake Shinn fall from She's Got Pizzazz in the race following Melham's Melbourne Cup win on Half Yours.
Melham was aboard the Michael Hickmott-trained Fancify, who finished eighth in the Group 3 Hong Kong Jockey Club Stakes.
Shinn was hospitalised after breaking his leg in the fall and was unable to give evidence on the day, but the inquiry resumed before Wednesday's Caulfield meeting with Melham pleading guilty to a charge of careless riding.
"Rider Jamie Melham pleaded guilty to a charge of careless riding under the provisions of AR 131(a) in that near the 200m she permitted her mount to shift out when not sufficiently clear of She's Got Pizzazz that was bumped and stumbled, resulting in rider Blake Shinn being dislodged," the Racing Victoria stewards' report read.
"Jamie Melham had her licence suspended for 30 race meetings with the period to commence on Sunday 16 November 2025 and expire on Wednesday 17 December 2025.
"In assessing penalty, account was taken of her guilty plea, good record and that it was a Group 3 event and the incident resulted in a rider being dislodged."
Saturday's Group 1 C F Orr Stakes meeting, where Melham has eight rides, including Evaporate in the $1 million feature, will be Melham's last until the week before Christmas.
It was a sour end to an unforgettable Spring Carnival for Melham, who became the first female rider to complete the Caulfield Cup/Melbourne Cup double aboard the Tony and Calvin McEvoy-trained Half Yours.
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