Ben Melham was suspended for 15 meetings for careless riding after losing the Comic Court Handicap on The Big Steel on protest to Elusive King at Flemington on Saturday.
Melham got the Matt Laurie-trained The Big Steel home by a head in the 2000m event but Brad Rawiller, rider of the Peter Moody-trained Elusive King, quickly fired in a protest alleging interference from the 300m to the winning post.
Elusive King winning the Comic Court Handicap at Flemington - photo by Race Horse Photos Australia
The Big Steel ($3.60), previously unbeaten in two Flemington starts, was racing tight on the outside of Elusive King ($2.70 fav).
“We were lucky not to go through the fence,” Rawiller told Racing Victoria stewards, chaired by Robert Cram, of the interference.
Melham told stewards that The Big Steel ducked in for one stride but Cram told him that part of the charge was that he had not given Elusive King “sufficient room” on his inside.
Melham pleaded guilty to the charge and stewards outed him from midnight on Sunday until midnight on January 1.
He has five rides at Ballarat on Sunday and is free to return after the suspension on Standish Handicap day at Flemington on January 2.
The day wasn’t all bad for Melham who guided Jugahlation ($7) to victory in the Fiesta Star Hcp (1200m).
AAP TURF
