Melbourne Cup-winning jockey Jamie Melham has been banned for 30 race meetings over an incident on Cup day that left fellow jockey Blake Shinn with a broken leg.
Last week Melham became the second female jockey to win the Melbourne Cup when she rode Half Yours to victory at Flemington.
In the process she became the first female jockey to win both the Melbourne and Caulfield Cups.
But two races after the Melbourne Cup on Cup day Melham was riding Fancify in the Hong Kong Jockey Club Stakes when she was involved in an incident that brought down Shinn, who was riding She’s Got Pizzazz.
Jockey Blake Shinn receives medical attention after falling off She’s Got Pizzazz in race nine on Melbourne Cup Day. (Getty Images: Morgan Hancock)
Shinn was treated on the track and taken to hospital, where it was confirmed that he had broken his leg. Shinn — who won the 2008 Melbourne Cup on Viewed — broke the tibia and fibula in his left leg and underwent surgery.
He is expected to be unable to ride for a significant period of time.
A post-race veterinary examination revealed She’s Got Pizzazz to be lame in the off-foreleg.
Challenges overcome, Jamie Melham is back at the top of racing
On Tuesday Racing Victoria stewards released a report following an 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.”
In assessing the penalty, the stewards said they took account of Melham’s guilty plea, her previous good riding record, that it was a Group 3 event and that the incident resulted in a rider’s race fall.
Melham will be able to complete her bookings in several rides at Caulfield on Saturday, including the Chris Waller-trained Pictor in the Sandown Guineas, before beginning her suspension.
She will be eligible to return to riding on Thursday, December 18.