Jamie Melham is a world-class jockey with 19 Group 1 wins, including the 2025 Caulfield and Melbourne Cups.
She’s one of Australia’s leading female athletes too and a terrific ambassador for the sport.
But Stewards today told her a ride at Caulfield on Saturday ‘’ lacked the judgement expected from a rider of her standing’’.
It involves her ride on Magnaspin in race 2, after she allowed the eventual winner Suntora to take a position to her inside.
Suntora, trained by Nick Ryan and ridden by Jackson Radley, was the red hot $1.75 favourite.
Melham decided to stay off the rail and was beaten a length. Stewards told Melham she should have taken Magnaspin to the rail at the 900m which would have disadvantaged Suntora.
As you can read from the Stewards below, they weren’t impressed, despite Magnaspin’s trainer Troy Corstens saying he was satisfied with Melham’s ride.
Harsh or fair? Here is what the Stewards had to say.
‘’When questioned as to the circumstances surrounding Suntora being able to obtain a run to the inside of Magnaspin near the 700m, rider Jamie Melham explained that Magnaspin led as it had done at its most recent start when successful at Caulfield on 31 January 2026,’’ the Stewards’ report said.
‘’J. Melham added that on that occasion Magnaspin did not race hard on the rail and laid out rounding the home turn and in the straight.”
‘’J. Melham added that today Magnaspin raced away from the rail and when linking up with the 1200m chute, she did not shift back towards the rail as Magnaspin was not racing genuinely.”
‘’J. Melham added that she was then surprised that Suntora, the eventual winner, was able to improve to her inside near the 700m and whilst she then endeavoured to shift back in, Suntora had already established that position.
‘’Co-trainer Troy Corstens confirmed that there were no specific instructions, however added that he was not surprised to see Magnaspin lead. Mr Corstens added whilst disappointed that Suntora was able to improve to the inside of Magnaspin he expressed satisfaction with the way Magnaspin was ridden.”
‘’J. Melham was advised by Stewards that near the 900m she should have shifted back towards the rail and raced in a position which would not have allowed a horse to improve to her inside.”
‘’J. Melham was further advised that her riding at this section of the race lacked the judgement expected from a rider of her standing.’’
