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Ben Melham to front Victorian Racing Tribunal on September 21 over betting-related charges

Jockey Ben Melham seeks to have multiple betting-related charges contested behind closed doors at the Victorian Racing Tribunal in September.

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Jockey Ben Melham will face the Victorian Racing Tribunal in September on seven betting-related charges.

Melham, 32, wants the matter heard behind closed doors at the County Court but Judge John Bowman on Tuesday said he would need to be “persuaded” about the request.

The hearing will be heard over three days from September 21.

“Mr Melham indicated the ultimate hearing to be a closed hearing,” Judge Bowman said.

“Now, I’d want to be persuaded about that, I might say.

“I won’t make any ruling on that at the moment, but at some stage that will have to be determined.”

Melham was charged in May with allegedly placing thousands of dollars in bets, using an account operated by partner Karlie Dales, on races at Sandown, Geelong, Sunshine Coast and Singapore, between July and September last year.

It is alleged the 17-time Group 1 winner, who pleaded not guilty at a directions hearing in May, wagered more than $14,000 in bets on one day using his girlfriend‘s account.

The charges related to 31 bets last year totalling more than $21,000, including four bets allegedly made on horses Melham rode.

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It is alleged Ben Melham wagered more than $14,000 in bets on one day using his girlfriend‘s account.
It is alleged Ben Melham wagered more than $14,000 in bets on one day using his girlfriend‘s account.

None of the charges related to Melham betting against his own rides.

Stewards accepted the tabling of three “outlines” late on Monday from John Kelly SC, acting on behalf of Melham and Dales, and any further statements be produced no later than 4pm on Wednesday, with a view to respond by August 5.

“Although we have indicated that we are in a position to file an outline from the GP and obstetrician by this afternoon, that’s not the case,” Kelly SC told the directions hearing.

“It should be the 21st and not the 14th. That was a typo. We are still endeavouring to chase up the materials.

“I’m happy to do that (preliminary legal hearing) but I say this takes place after the filing of outlines in relation to what witnesses can and can’t say.”

All parties have agreed on a “preliminary legal hearing”, at a date to be fixed, for Judge Bowman to hear arguments about specific ”questions of law” raised in the statements.

Melham, who has one ride at Cranbourne on Wednesday, is permitted to continue riding until the final determination of the charges.

Melham faces a mandatory two-year ban if found guilty of placing the bets.

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The charges related to 31 bets last year totalling more than $21,000.
The charges related to 31 bets last year totalling more than $21,000.

BETTING RECORDS PART OF PROBE INTO CAULFIELD RIDES

By Leo Schlink

Analysis of sectional times and betting records will form part of a Racing Victoria stewards’ inquiry into apprentices Lachlan King and Teo Nugent’s rides at Caulfield on Saturday.

King (Surreal Image) and Nugent (France’s Boy) were interviewed by stewards immediately after the pair cleared out to a 10-length lead in the Neds Toolbox Handicap before fading.

Evidence was also taken from trainers John Hickmott (France’s Boy) and his stable representative Amir Gegic and Kevin Corstens (Surreal Image).

Stewards have concerns over the way France’s Boy and Surreal Image were ridden in the middle stages of the 1700m race.

Sectional timing showed Surreal Image and France‘s Boy each recorded a 10.94-second split from the 1600m to the 1400m on a heavy track.

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Jockey Teo Nugent is the target of a Racing Victoria stewards’ inquiry. Picture: Getty
Jockey Teo Nugent is the target of a Racing Victoria stewards’ inquiry. Picture: Getty

France‘s Boy clocked 46.84 secs from the 1600m to the 800m and Surreal Image covering the same section in 46.93 secs.

Both horses wilted in the straight with Surreal Image ($13) finishing 5.85 lengths behind Bedford in sixth place.

France’s Boy ($7) finished 6.7 lengths behind the winner in eighth.

France’s Boy and Surreal Image were both vetted following the race. Surreal Image was cleared of any issues but France’s Boy was found to be suffering from a slow recovery.

An inquiry has been adjourned until a date to be fixed.

Craig Williams was questioned by stewards over his ride on Morrissy in the Neds Multi Handicap (1400m) after the $3.10 favourite finished fourth after being second last early.

The gelding had won its previous start at Caulfield after sitting outside the leader.

On Saturday, Williams told stewards he eased the horse back from a wide gate to avoid it over-racing.

Jockey Craig Williams has been interviewed.
Jockey Craig Williams has been interviewed.

Williams told stewards the race unfolded much differently through the early stages “which meant that he was caught wide with speed on his inside which therefore obliged him to race further back than anticipated, but after having done so, the horse relaxed and raced comfortably.”

“He (Williams) added he would have liked to have been taken into the race past the 600m sooner when tracking Ballet Master but that Morrissy ran on well in the home straight,” the stewards reported.

“Stewards confirmed with co-trainer Troy Corstens that there were no specific instructions given today and added they were the same instructions given last start but he was always somewhat concerned with the awkward barrier draw today, given that there was speed drawn on his inside.”

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Original URL: https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/superracing/apprentice-jockeys-lachlan-king-and-teo-nugent-to-face-racing-victoria-stewards-inquiry/news-story/048bc9f7dbac864bd90b4cdc23e2b382