Ben Melham appeals his suspension

Ben Dorries - Friday October 6

Ben Melham has lodged an appeal against a suspension which threatens to rub out him for lucrative rides at the Caulfield Guineas meeting.

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Ben Melham. Photo: Darryl Sherer

Melham was outed for careless riding at Ballarat on Thursday with his ban to begin after Saturday's Flemington meeting and end a day after the Caulfield meeting on October 14.

He is the regular rider of Caulfield Guineas contender Levendi and has been slated to ride Irish horse Johannes Vermeer in the Caulfield Stakes.

Johannes Vermeer, trained by Aidan O'Brien and part-owned by Lloyd Williams, is in quarantine at Werribee.

On Friday afternoon, Racing Victoria notified that Melham had lodged an appeal against the decision of the stewards and the penalty imposed. The hearing is on Monday.

A stay of proceedings was not requested.

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