Advertisement

Jamie Kah handed massive Melbourne Cup reprieve as top jockey cops 10-meeting suspension

The leading jockey's ban will only start on Tuesday night after the Melbourne Cup.

sam goodwin
Sports Editor
·3-min read

Jamie Kah has been hit with a 10-meeting suspension after a rollercoaster day at the Victoria Derby, but a quirk in the rules means she's free to ride in the Melbourne Cup. Kah won the $2 million Derby aboard Goldrush Guru after earlier suffering a broken nose and being charged with careless riding.

The 28-year-old passed a medical assessment after she was struck in the face by her horse before an earlier race. Hurry Curry twice reared her head back entering the stalls before the Wakeful Stakes and knocked the star jockey in the face.

But Kah was able to laugh off the drama, producing a brilliant ride in an emphatic triumph with Goldrush Guru. The Andrew Gluyas-trained colt won by one-and-a-half lengths from Scary, with China Sea third and Kingofwallstreet fourth.

Jamie Kah, pictured here after winning the Victoria Derby.
Jamie Kah was hit with a 10-meeting ban after winning the Victoria Derby. Image: Getty

Kah became the second female jockey to win Australia's oldest classic, after fellow South Australian Clare Lindop in 2008. Kah said after the Derby: "Harry (Perks) the owner said, 'You know what fixes broken noses? Champagne. And I'll have plenty waiting for you when you cross the line first'. I'll hold him to that."

Jamie Kah, pictured here with parents John and Karen.
Jamie Kah with parents John and Karen after riding Goldrush Guru to victory. (Photo by Vince Caligiuri/Getty Images)

After her Derby triumph, Kah learnt she had been suspended for 10 meetings for careless riding on Kuroyanagi in The TAB Vanity. It immediately sparked concerns over her participation in the Melbourne Cup on Tuesday, but stewards decided the ban would commence on Tuesday night, leaving her free to ride Okita Soushi in the race that stops a nation.

Jockeys can normally defer suspensions and take them at a time of their choosing, unless they occur in Melbourne Cup week. The Derby is part of Cup week, meaning Kah must take her suspension immediately and can't defer it. It appears very lucky that stewards decided the ban will commence on Tuesday night after the Melbourne Cup, although that decision was probably made due to the incident not being overly serious.

Kah claimed two victories on Saturday, with an emotional triumph aboard Another Wil in the Group 2 The Damien Oliver. Kah and trainer Ciaron Maher were both close to prominent owner Colin McKenna, who died last Sunday, and fought back tears after the race.

Meanwhile, the Chris Waller-trained Buckaroo is still the Melbourne Cup favourite despite drawing a tough barrier for the race that stops a nation. Waller will have almost one-quarter of the 24-horse field in Tuesday's $8 million race, with he and fellow champion trainer Maher sharing nine runners between them.

RELATED:

Buckaroo, who recently won the Caulfield Cup, will lead Waller's five-strong assault from barrier 21 and has eased slightly in betting from $5 out to $5.50. Vauban remains the second-favourite at $7 after drawing barrier 11, with Geelong Cup winner Onesmoothoperator third at $8 after drawing next door at gate 12.

Bendigo Cup winner Sea King drew the inside gate and is a $9 fancy, while Willie Mullins' other raider Absurde (barrier seven) is at $11. Circle Of Fire (24) drew the widest barrier possible in what shapes as a huge test for champion jockey Mark Zahra, who is chasing a third-straight Cup victory after his wins on Without A Fight last year and Gold Trip. "Twenty-four is ordinary ... but Mark's flying so it won't matter," Maher said.

with AAP