Leading jockey Jamie Melham will be sidelined for the middle part of May after receiving a 10-meeting suspension for careless riding at Ballarat on Thursday.
The ban will commence following next week’s Group 1 The Goodwood meeting at Morphettville, with Melham eligible to return to riding on May 19.
It marks her first careless riding suspension since a 30-day ban late last year following the Melbourne Cup Day incident involving Blake Shinn.
Melham pleaded guilty to the charge after her ride aboard two-year-old filly Cavill Avenue in the opening race at Ballarat.
Stewards found that she attempted to take a run near the 400-metre mark where there was insufficient room, resulting in rival runner Adakite becoming unbalanced.
Despite the suspension, Melham is set to play a major role at Saturday’s Group 1 SA Derby meeting at Morphettville, where she has seven rides booked.
Among them is Arabian Prince, a $26 chance in the feature race.
She will also be available to ride at the Group 1 The Goodwood, the final elite-level race of the Adelaide season, before beginning her suspension.
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