Victorian jockey Ben Melham has been granted a stay of proceedings by VCAT (Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal) pending his appeal against a two-month suspension.
Melham was unsuccessful in his appeal before the Racing Appeals and Disciplinary Board and is appealing against its decision.
Victorian jockey Ben Melham has been granted a stay of proceedings by VCAT - Photo by Steven Dowden
Racing Victoria chief steward Terry Bailey, who attended Tuesday’s VCAT proceedings, said the stay affectively meant Melham could resume riding, effective immediately, pending the appeal – a date for which has yet to be set.
The suspension was imposed by Racing Victoria stewards over a running and handling charge.
Melham was charged over his ride on the Dean Binaisse-trained Numen Lumen at Mornington on September 19, alleging he failed to improve his position on two occasions over the final 800m.
Stewards alleged that he had failed to improve his position leaving the 800m when he had ample opportunity to do so when racing to the inside of Heavenly Dreams and at the entrance to the straight to the inside of Naringaling.
Numen Lumen, backed from $2.60 to $2.15 favorite finished third, a little over a length from the winner.
The biggest moment of Melham’s career came last spring when he filled in for a suspended Luke Nolen to guide unbeaten champion sprinter Black Caviar to her first Group One win in the Patinack Farm Classic.
AAP TURF
