Superstar jockey Jamie Melham has copped a hefty 30-race meeting suspension after she admitted to riding carelessly during a Group Three race at Flemington last week.
After making history by becoming only the second woman to win the Melbourne Cup aboard Half Yours, Melham returned to the race track aboard the Michael Hickmott-trained Fancify in the Hong Kong Jockey Club Stakes.
But the 29-year-old jockey was involved in a collision with rider Blake Shinn and his mount, She’s Got Pizzazz, approximately 200m from the finish line.
Shinn was dislodged and broke his leg as he fell to the ground. He later confirmed that his horse, She’s Got Pizzazz, was doing OK and that he was grateful for those who had sent him messages of support.
Melham has since entered a guilty plea to racing stewards, stating that she had ridden carelessly during the Group Three race.
Stewards stated that Melham had not allowed her mount to move out when she was not clear of Shinn and She’s Got Pizzazz.
Melbourne Cup winning jockey Jamie Melham (pictured) has been slapped with a 30-race meeting ban
It came after she admitted to riding carelessly during a Group Three race at Flemington that saw Blake Shinn (pictured) fall from his horse and break his leg
Shinn was dislodged and broke his leg as he fell to the ground. He later confirmed that his horse, She’s Got Pizzaz, was doing OK and that he was grateful for those who had sent him messages of support
The move ultimately forced Shinn to fall to the ground.
The South Australian jockey will feature in eight races this weekend at Caulfield, which will be her last race meeting until December 17.
‘Rider Jamie Melham 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, who was bumped and stumbled, resulting in rider Blake Shinn being dislodged,’ Racing Victoria stewards said.
‘Jamie Melham had her licence suspended for 30 race meetings with the period to commence on Sunday, 16 November 2025 and expire on Wednesday, 17 December 2025.
‘In assessing penalty, account was taken of her guilty plea, good record and that it was a Group 3 event and the incident resulted in a rider being dislodged.’
It is a tough blow for Melham, who had been on top of the world last week after following up her Caulfield Cup win by winning the Melbourne Cup.
