Flemington racing: Melham fined after close Gilgai Stakes win

At Flemington during the 2026 Spring racing carnival, jockey Ben Melham faced disciplinary action after a narrow victory in the Group 2 Gilgai Stakes. Melham, riding the favorite Skybird, eased up 25 metres from the finish line, nearly allowing Smooth Chino to overtake the mare. Melham pleaded guilty to a stewards' charge of failing to ride his mount to the end and was fined $2,000. The runner-up's jockey, Austin Galati, was also fined $1,000 for similar conduct.

In contrast, trainer Andrea Leek secured a significant victory in the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes with the Perth gelding Cosmic Crusader. The win on the heavy track marked a personal milestone for Leek, coming six weeks after her husband, John Leek jnr, received a three-year ban from the sport.