Melbourne Cup-winning jockey Jamie Melham has been suspended for a month — 30 race meetings — for careless riding in a race on Cup day.
The 29-year-old South Australian, who rode Half Yours to a history-making victory in race seven at Flemington, pleaded guilty to a charge of careless riding in the Hong Kong Jockey Club Stakes — race nine.
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Melham’s horse, Fancify, bumped into Blake Shinn’s mount She’s Got Pizzazz, causing it to stumble, as Shinn was left worse for wear roughly 200 metres from the finish line.
Shinn was treated on the track before being taken to hospital, where it was confirmed he’d suffered a broken tibia and fibula. He will miss an extended period of riding.
Racing Victoria found Melham allowed Fancify to shift out when not sufficiently clear of She’s Got Pizzazz, causing the encroachment.
Melham had been widely celebrated in the racing industry for becoming the first female jockey to win the Caulfield Cup and Melbourne Cup.
She will now miss 30 race meetings starting this Sunday and running until December 18. It means Melham will be permitted to ride in Saturday’s group 1 Orr Stakes meeting at Caulfield.
Racing Victoria stewards released a report following its inquiry into the race.
“Rider Jamie Melham (Fancify) pleaded guilty to a charge of careless riding under the provisions of AR 131 (a), in that near the 200m, she permitted her mount to shift out when not sufficiently clear of She’s Got Pizzazz that was bumped and stumbled, resulting in rider Blake Shinn being dislodged,” the report stated.
“Jamie Melham had her licence to ride in races suspended for 30 race meetings, with the period to commence on Sunday 16 November 2025, and expire on Wednesday 17 December 2025.”
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