Ben Melham was on Friday suspended for two months at the conclusion of an inquiry into his riding tactics aboard the Tony Vasil-trained Ariarni at Pakenham late last month.Melham was charged with failing to take all reasonable and permissible measures to give Ariarni full opportunity to win or finish in the best possible place in a Rating 68 Hcp (1008m) on October 28.The three-year-old, sent out $3 favourite after opening in the betting at $1.80, settled last of the seven runners before finishin
Ben Melham was on Friday suspended for two months at the conclusion of an inquiry into his riding tactics aboard the Tony Vasil-trained Ariarni at Pakenham late last month.
Melham was charged with failing to take all reasonable and permissible measures to give Ariarni full opportunity to win or finish in the best possible place in a Rating 68 Hcp (1008m) on October 28.
The three-year-old, sent out $3 favourite after opening in the betting at $1.80, settled last of the seven runners before finishing fourth to Set Shot.
Stewards found that after Ariarni began well, it was open for the first 200m for Melham to go forward on the Hawk Wing filly.
But he did not show any vigour in an effort to maintain a forward position in the race even though the race instructions from Vasil were for Ariarni to lead or be ridden in a forward position.
Melham was outed from midnight next Tuesday and is free to resume race riding on January 19.
Stewards accepted the evidence given by Vasil throughout the inquiry which was opened on the day of the race.
At her only other start the filly was ridden by Glen Boss and led when she won a Moe maiden (1100m) by 1-3/4 lengths from Huss at her race debut as $2 favourite on October 16.