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Melham one of four suspended at Sandown

Brad Waters - Wednesday August 30

Golden Slipper-winning rider Ben Melham was one of four jockeys suspended on a busy day for stewards at Sandown on Wednesday.

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Ben Melham was suspended for careless riding at Sandown on Wednesday. Photo: Darryl Sherer

Melham pleaded guilty to a careless riding charge after stewards deemed he caused interference when he allowed his mount Miss Vixen to shift in when insufficiently clear of Pageantry at the 100m of the Moorookyle Handicap (1000m).

Stewards assessed the offence to be in the low range while Melham's good record and guilty plea enabled the penalty to be cut to seven meetings, which will begin after Saturday's Memsie Stakes card.

Apprentice Ben Thompson pleaded guilty to a careless riding charge arising out of the same race after stewards deemed he allowed his mount So Far Sokool to shift in over the concluding stages, causing Maid To Measure to be checked.

Thompson was suspended for nine meetings with his ban to also begin at midnight on Saturday.

Luke Currie earned a six meeting suspension after he pleaded guilty breaching whip rules aboard the winner Torreggiante in the Ladbrokes Info Hub Handicap (1800m).

Another apprentice, Lucinda Doodt received 12-mmeting suspension for careless riding aboard Duke Of Nottingham at the 500m of the day's last race, The Cove Hotel Handicap (1400m).

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