Melbourne jockey Ben Melham is considering an appeal to a higher level over a two-month suspension after the Racing Appeals and Disciplinary Board (RADB) dismissed his plea over his handling of a horse at Pakenham.Melham, 20, was found guilty of failing to take all reasonable and permissible measures to give the Tomy Vasil-trained Ariarni full opportunity to win or finish in the best possible place in the Rating 68 Hcp (1008m) on October 28.Stewards, chaired by Daniel Aurisch, said Melham did no

Melbourne jockey Ben Melham is considering an appeal to a higher level over a two-month suspension after the Racing Appeals and Disciplinary Board (RADB) dismissed his plea over his handling of a horse at Pakenham.

Melham, 20, was found guilty of failing to take all reasonable and permissible measures to give the Tomy Vasil-trained Ariarni full opportunity to win or finish in the best possible place in the Rating 68 Hcp (1008m) on October 28.

Stewards, chaired by Daniel Aurisch, said Melham did not show any vigour in an effort to maintain a forward position in the race over the first 200m even though the instructions from Vasil were for Ariarni to lead or be ridden in a forward position.

Ariarni finished fourth of the seven runners to Set Shot after dropping back to last.

At her only previous start the filly was ridden by Glen Boss and led when she won a Moe maiden (1100m) by 1-3/4 lengths at her race debut as $2 favourite on October 16.

Matthew Sterling, representing the stewards, said the panel had conceded Ariarni was bumped by Set Shot, ridden by Mark Flaherty, on his immediate outside after jumping out of barrier three.

But after that Melham did not go forward on the filly when he had the opportunity to do so.

Tim McHenry, representing Melham, said the jockey was trying to look after the riders of the two horses inside him, Darren Gauci (Pure Dancer) and Wayne Davis (Emerald Poacher) as Set Shot was about three-quarters of a length ahead of his mount and was looking to cross to the fence and lead.

Melham's case centred on his decision not to kick up and take on Set Shot for the lead.

"They (the RADB) failed to see my point that the 10 strides (of clear running) was irrelevant because I had decided to box-seat the horse," Melham said.

Board chairman Judge Russell Lewis, in his summing up, said Melham's ride was "culpable or blameworthy" in that he had clear running for a considerable distance.

Lewis said the Board was satisfied that for 12-14 strides Melham made no effort to improve his position and that there was no evidence that the riders on his inside were not in any danger.

Lewis said it was a serious charge and to be found guilty it had to be more than an error of judgment.