- Jamie Kah was given a ten-meeting suspension for careless driving
- Champion jockey free to race in the Melbourne Cup
Champion Aussie jockey Jamie Kah has been handed a 10-race ban for careless riding on Derby Day at Flemington, but will be free to race in the Melbourne Cup on Tuesday.
Kah was penalized for interference during the second race of the day, making her unavailable for both Oaks Day and Champions Stakes Day.
However, the 28-year-old will be available to ride in the Melbourne Cup on Tuesday, where she will ride Okita Soushi for trainer Ciaron Maher.
It was a dramatic day for Kah, who shook off a broken nose to win the 1400m Damien Oliver race and the 2500m Victoria Derby.
It was trainer Andrew Gluyas’ first win in Group 1 as a solo trainer and he praised Kah for her bravery,
‘I’m speechless. Dumbfounded. Proud. Satisfied. Great moment,” he said.
‘She got hit in the nose and even during that ride it really bothered her. Probably broken, she said.
“Lots of courage there.”
Jamie Kah has been handed a 10-match ban for careless driving on Derby Day
Kah claimed Group 1 success with Goldrush Guru in the $2 million G1 Victoria Derby
Kah has faced several controversies in her career. In 2021, she was suspended for three months after breaching Covid protocols by attending an illegal meeting at a rented property with other jockeys.
She was fined $5,452 for breaching lockdown laws and the incident attracted widespread media attention and temporarily halted her record-breaking season.
In 2023, Kah was again in the spotlight after a serious crash during a race at Flemington, which led to an investigation into the incident. She suffered a brain injury and was kept in a coma for six days.
Kah was subsequently banned by the Victoria Racing Tribunal for three weeks en route to the Spring Racing Carnival after failing to move her mount Let’sfacethemusic through a gap between two horses.
After the race, Kah praised Gluyas for showing confidence in her.
“It means the world to us,” Kah said.
‘Of course we love riding Group 1 winners, but it only makes it more special when it’s for fantastic people like Andrew.
Kah is free to ride in the Melbourne Cup on Tuesday
‘I used to ride for Andrew and Lou. I rode a number of shockers for them at the time so it was nice to pay them back on the big stage on Derby Day.
‘My plan was to get him back. Couldn’t hold him early. I would be wide and somehow find a small gap I could fit into.
“Once I found the hole, he just fell asleep and let me do a beautiful run.
‘He won the race by a long way and I could have held him off for another lap, but he wanted to keep going.
“They have trained this horse to perfection, he looked good in the win in Adelaide, but obviously the class is a bit different. I didn’t know how he would measure up, but they did a good job.”