Jamie Kah, Ben Melham, Ethan Brown, Celine Gaudray banned after Airbnb Covid breach

Racing Victoria has thrown the book at star jockeys Jamie Kah and Ben Melham after an illegal Airbnb gathering in Mornington.

Star jockeys Jamie Kah and Ben Melham will miss the spring carnival after being hit with three-month bans for an illegal gathering in Mornington.

The multiple Group 1 winners, along with young guns Ethan Brown and Celine Gaudray, copped the sanction on Friday following a closed stewards inquiry.

It comes as the quartet was fined more than $5000 by Victoria Police for the breach of Chief Medical Officer directions.

All four jockeys pleading guilty to respective charges in relation to the Covid breach.

Stewards heard submissions on penalties and after doing so took into consideration the guilty pleas, each of the riders’ personal circumstances, that this was their first offence of this nature, that any suspension this time of year includes missing feature race meetings, and that the individuals expressed remorse.

Jamie Kah rides Nature Strip to victory in the Black Caviar Lightning at Flemington on February 13. Picture: Getty Images

Kah at Caulfield in earlier this month. Picture: Getty Images

Jamie Kah wins 100 races in a season on Deep Speed. Picture: Getty Images

The stewards also took into consideration the serious nature of the offending, the potential severe ramifications that could flow from a breach of Racing Victoria’s Covid-19 protocols, and that the penalty must be sufficient enough to deter others from breaching the Covid-19 protocols.

The penalty had to publicly address the seriousness of the offending and make clear compliance with the Covid-19 Protocols is non-negotiable.

The suspension start at midnight on August 26 and will expire on November 25.

Ben Melham was also hit with a three-month suspension. Picture: Racing Photos via Getty Images

Celine Gaudray. Picture: Getty Images

Ethan Brown. Picture: Getty Images

In a statement released on Friday afternoon, a remorseful Kah said: “I want to apologise for my recent behaviour in breaching the government and racing Covid rules.

“I am deeply embarrassed and disappointed with myself,” she wrote on Twitter.

“There is no excuse for what I have done and I have let myself down, my family and friends, the racing industry and all Victorians who are doing the right thing in this lockdown.

“I deserve the penalty handed down by the stewards and will take the time to reflect on my actions and its impact on so many people.”

The jockeys will be allowed to participate in trackwork, jump-outs and official trials once the 14-day stand down order from the CMO concludes on Septmeber 9.

The jockeys have three days to appeal the decision.

JOCKEYS STOOD DOWN FOR AIRBNB COVID BREACH

The three-month suspensions come after the four riders were initially stood down by Racing Victoria late on Thursday night in relation to the Airbnb gathering.

Melham, Brown and talented apprentice Gaudray, along with Kah, attended the Airbnb past the 9pm greater Melbourne curfew.

The jockeys, who defied the State Government “stay at home directions”, were at the short-stay rental with two other non-licensed people.

Stewards launched an inquiry into the alleged illegal gathering, which was in breach of not only current racing regulations, but also and more importantly the State Government orders.

In a statement on Friday morning, police said: “Officers were called to the property on Tallis Drive following reports of a noise complaint about 11.50pm”.

“Upon arrival, officers located six people inside, all allegedly outside their 5km radius and in breach of curfew,” they said.

“All have been issued with a $5452 infringement notice for breaching Chief Health Officer directions.”

RV chief medical officer Gary Zimmerman rubber-stamped the 14-day stand down on Thursday night, which results in Kah and Melham losing the rides on Group 1 Memsie Stakes favourite Behemoth and Beau Rossa respectively.

Kah has shown remorse for her actions. Picture: Jason Edwards

Kah was also due to ride boom galloper Ayrton in the last race at Caulfield on Saturday.

RV chief executive Giles Thompson slammed the quartet’s behaviour.

“The alleged behaviour of these four jockeys is a slap in the face to every member of the racing industry that has worked incredibly hard to protect the sport and the community while continuing to race since Covid restrictions were first introduced in March 2020,” Thompson said.

“These individuals could have put at risk the very continuance of our sport and also blatantly disregarded the broader community implications through their selfish and thoughtless actions.

“The stewards have elected to lay significant charges against these individuals, which is appropriate given the potential impact their actions could have had on community safety, the livelihoods of the 25,000 Victorian jobs supported by racing and the welfare of the horses who rely on the daily care and exercise the industry provides.

“To see all of that potentially thrown away by the reckless behaviour of a small few is incredibly disappointing and far from what is expected of our industry participants.

“While these actions do not reflect the majority, I want to make it extremely clear to all industry participants of the critical need to abide all industry and government directives, especially as we enter the Spring Racing Carnival period.

“Thank you to those that continue to do the right thing by the industry at all times and I hope this serves as a firm reminder of how fortunate we are to continue racing and the importance of adhering to the protocols.”

Victorian Racing Minister Martin Pakula said: “These allegations are beyond disappointing – they’re actually mind-boggling.

“We all need to do our bit to get infections down so that we can open businesses and schools and get crowds back to events – including the spring carnival – and industry participants should be setting an example. To think that some would, instead, put all of that at risk is just infuriating.”

Private gatherings for persons otherwise living with one another are prohibited in Victoria.

Kah’s manager James Henderson was contacted for comment on Thursday night.