Jamie Kah and fiance Ben Melham lead the way at racing’s most glamorous night
Loved up jockeys Jamie Kah and fiancé Ben Melham led the way at racing’s most glamorous night with several couples ‘hard launching’ their relationships at the gala awards evening.
Fiona Byrne
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Loved up jockeys Jamie Kah and fiancé Ben Melham could barely keep their hands off each as they arrived at the Victorian racing industry’s gala night.
The couple, who announced their engagement on Valentine’s Day in February this year, stopped for photos with Kah grabbing Melham’s face and teasing photographers by pretended to go in for a Hollywood-style red carpet pash.
Her engagement ring sparkled in the spotlight.
Kah and Melham were not the only couple turning heads at the Victorian Racing Awards which was held at the Regent Plaza Ballroom on Saturday evening.
Jockey Ben Allen and model Delainey Mary “hard launched” their relationship which has been bubbling along for the past few months.
Mary is the sister of Mila Mary whose partner is Melbourne crypto billionaire Bijan Tehrani. Her other sister is Lexi Mary who is engaged to Western Bulldogs player Rory Lobb.
Delainey, Mila and Lexi are the daughters of Melissa Rosich, who is married to former VRC chief executive Steve Rosich.
Having recently retired as a jockey, Michelle Payne said she was looking forward to doing “things I have not been able to enjoy for 23 years.”
Payne called time on her riding career after more than two decades when she relinquished her jockey licence to Racing Victoria last month.
“It is a nice feeling to have made that decision. I feel quite relaxed about it and am looking forward to the future and focusing on training,” she said.
“It was a big one (her decision to retire from race riding). It has been a long career.
“It was something that took over my life, you put everything into it, it is your passion but now that chapter is finished I am ready for a new one.
“I am looking forward to being more relaxed (and) not training all the time to keep yourself fit and agile as a jockey.
“It (retiring) just gives you that chance to live a normal life and enjoy the things that I have not been able to enjoy for 23 years.”
Payne is training in partnership with her brother Patrick.
“I think it is nice when you win with family,” she said.
“We have been working together as a trainer and jockey and now to be a partnership both as trainers, it is going to be a lot of fun. We are both looking forward to it.”
Standing head and shoulders above the crowd was former AFL boss Gillon McLachlan.
McLachlan, who was accompanied by his wife Laura, had been tipped for months to land the gig as chairman of Racing Victoria before he withdrew his nomination in June and was appointed the managing director and chief executive officer of Tabcorp.
Among the guests attending the black tie awards night that honoured Victoria’s elite trainers and jockeys were Ciaron Maher and Alice Berry, Sam Freedman, Luke and Alicia Nolen, Blake Shinn and Lucy Yeomans, Charlotte Littlefield and Julian Hay, Damien Oliver, Damian and Bonnie Lane, Mark and Elyse Zahra, Michael and Ali Kent, Craig and Larysa Williams, Brent Thomson, and Ethan Brown and Celine Gaudray.
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