Friday, 4 November 2011: Ben Melham will ride at Flemington on Saturday after winning his appeal against a two-month suspension but Damien Oliver and Corey Brown will be absent after deciding not to pursue appeals against careless riding suspensions.
Melham was successful in his appeal before the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal over his handling of the Dean Binaisse-trained Numen Lumen in a race at Mornington on September 19.
He has two rides at Flemington including the Peter Moody-trained Mid Summer Music in the Patinack Farm Classic, a race he brought up his first Group One success in last year aboard Black Caviar when he replaced the suspended Luke Nolen.
His other mount is Dance With Her in the Group Two Matriarch Stakes, a race he won last year aboard 40-1 shot Well Rounded.
Melham was unsuccessful when he appealed to the Racing Appeals and Disciplinary Board against the ban over his handling of Numen Lumen.
Stewards charged Melham with failing to take all reasonable and permissible measures to ensure Numen Lumen was given full opportunity to win or obtain the best possible placing.
Numen Lumen was backed from $2.60 to start the $2.15 favourite and finished third to Heavenly Dreams, beaten 1-1/4 lengths.
Melham had been riding on a stay of proceedings granted by VCAT on October 18 pending the appeal.
Brown lodged an appeal on Friday against a 14-meeting careless riding suspension incurred on Melbourne Cup Day but withdrew it 35 minutes later after the RADB ruled there were insufficient grounds for him to be granted a stay of proceedings pending the hearing.
Oliver then decided against appealing his 12-meeting careless riding suspension, also incurred on Cup Day.
Mark Zahra is the replacement rider for Oliver on Albert The Fat in the Group One Emirates Stakes while Steven King replaces Brown on Pinnacles.
Darren Beadman replaces Oliver on Curtana in the Patinack Farm Classic, while Michael Rodd takes over the reins on heavily backed favourite Bauer replacing Oliver in the Group Three Queen Elizabeth Stakes.
Mark Zahra is the new rider for Anudjawun, replacing Brown, in the Queen Elizabeth.
