Back Yourself!
Sign-up and start betting with Ladbrokes in 2 minutes!
Back A Winner with Neds!
Sign-up and start betting with Neds in 2 minutes!
Daily Racing Specials!
Sign-up and bet with Australia's best new bookmaker!
#1 Ranked New Bookie
Sign-up and bet with Australia's #1 ranked new bookmaker!
Best Of The Best Odds!
Bet With Palmerbet and get Paid Top Fluc or Top Tote!
Massive Odds on All Races!
Sign-up and start betting with PlayUp in 2 minutes!
Imagine what you could be buying instead.
Set a deposit limit.
Search
 

Group One-winning jockey Ben Melham is ready for his return from an enforced lay-off and keen to start building momentum with feature races just around the corner.

Melham has not ridden for a month after surgery on an abscess which developed from a saddle sore and required time to heal.

He makes his return with two rides at Sandown on Wednesday.

“I have had a decent lay-off so I’m pretty fresh and keen to get back into it,” Melham said.

“I’m hungry to get back riding and riding winners.”

Melham returned to trackwork last week.

“I was able to keep pretty fit though because I was still able to be active and I kept up my training,” he said.

“It shouldn’t take me too long to get back in the swing of things.”

Melham won two Group One races on the Peter Moody-trained Dissident during last year’s spring carnival and said he was looking forward to riding him again.

Dissident won the Memsie Stakes and Makybe Diva Stakes early last spring before his preparation ended prematurely when he bled and incurred a three month ban in the Caulfield Stakes.

“From all reports he’s going really well and I’d like to think he’ll be competitive in the early Group Ones in the autumn,” Melham said.

“He’s a top-class galloper. I’m excited to get back aboard him and thankful to Pete and the connections for keeping me on him.”

Dissident is expected to have a jump-out at Sandown on Tuesday.

Moody has said the CF Orr Stakes and Futurity Stakes look logical Group One targets for Dissident during the horse’s final season before he is retired to stud.

Melham’s two rides in his return at the Sandown midweek meeting are Hefner for trainer Jason Warren and the Robbie Griffiths-trained Zadon who resumes in a 1400m benchmark race.

“I have a good opinion of Zadon and think he has quite nice staying ability,” Melham said.

“I think he looks ideally placed first-up and hopefully he can run well.”

 
*Existing customers only. 2nd Racing bet. Excl SA & WA. T’s & C’s apply. Gamble responsibly.
Imagine what you could be buying instead.
Set a deposit limit.
Featured News

FREE BETS – Claim $1000’s in Bonus Bets at the TOP Betting Sites

We take a look at the BIGGEST and BEST Free Daily Racing Offers and Betting Promotions from Australia’s leading online...

Golden Slipper Likely Field – 2024

The biggest two-year-old race of the year will jump this Saturday in arguably one of the best fields in recent...

Former trainer handed a five-year ban for pulling stewards pants down

Former trainer Todd Balfour has been handed a five-year disqualification by Racing SA stewards after a misconduct incident at the...

Melbourne Cup champion Verry Elleegant passes away

Verry Elleegant, one of the great mares in the history of Australian racing, has died while giving birth to her...

Watch 📺 Jockey banned from all racing premises over ride

Jockey Dylan Kitts has been penalised with a disciplinary officer exclusion directive due to non-compliance with an inquiry regarding his...

Group 1 winner returns positive swab

Racing Victoria stewards are investigating a positive swab from Group 1-winning mare Prowess, the racehorse trained by Roger James and...

Alligator Blood injured, career in doubt

Cult galloper Alligator Blood may have run his last race, with trainers Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott confirming the star galloper had...

Nikita Beriman returns to the saddle

July 1, 2023 to January 26, 2024 … that period represents the just shy of seven months that Nikita Beriman...

Australia's Best Betting Sites

New Betting Sites Australia + Top List Bookmaker Apps $$$

Betting in Australia has never been more popular thanks to a large increase in new betting Agencies and Apps available...

Top 10 – Funniest Race Horse Names

Horse racing. Known as the ‘Sport Of Kings’, an industry worth billions, a very serious business…but to some, it’s a...

Best Horse Betting Sites in Australia

Best Horse Racing Betting Apps and Betting Sites – March 2024

We take a look at the best online betting apps to bet on horse racing in Australia for the month...

Golden Slipper

The Golden Slipper is one of the biggest and most prestigious horse races in Australia. Taking place each April at...

Australian Bookmaker Reviews – Online Bookie Ratings $$

Which bookmaker should you bet with? We Review each of the leading online Australian Bookmakers and rate them in order...

 
 
Imagine what you could be buying instead.
For free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au