Ben Melham’s hopes of riding Star Witness and Alcopop in Group One features at Flemington rest on the result of his appeal against an eight-meeting suspension on Tuesday.
Melham will fight the decision and the severity of the penalty as he tries to get a rare appeal win.
Melham, who rode his first Group One winner aboard super mare Black Caviar in the Patinack Farm Classic (1200m) at Flemington last spring, was suspended for careless riding on the Danny O’Brien-trained Impressive Eagle in Saturday’s Group Three PFD Food Services Stakes (1400m) at Flemington.
This week he is booked to ride Impressive Eagle’s stablemate Star Witness in the Newmarket Handicap and the Jake Stephens-trained Alcopop in the Australian Cup.
Melham, who did not ask for a stay of proceedings was suspended until midnight on Sunday.
AAP TURF
