Melham out for 10 meetings Ibicenco, Brad Rawiller up, beats Verdant, ridden by Ben Melham, to win the Geelong Cup. Melham was penalised for careless riding. Ben Melham has joined the growing list of top jockeys to be sidelined from major spring fixtures after he was outed for 10 meetings by Racing Victoria stewards at the Geelong Cup meeting on Wednesday. Melham, who will now miss one of Australia's most important race meetings, Victoria Derby day, joins Damien Oliver, Nick Hall and Glen Boss, who were suspended at last Saturday's Caulfield Cup meeting. Racing Victoria stewards have made no secret of their disappointment at the high number of charges they have issued since Turnbull Stakes day. Melham, who pleaded not guilty to a careless riding charge on Lady Antebellum in the second last race at the Geelong meeting, may appeal Wednesday's penalty, which starts at midnight on Saturday. Stewards said Melham's charge lay in the mid range of carelessness. The jockey has the plum ride on Puissance De Lune in Saturday's Cox Plate, having picked up the mount when the horse's regular rider, Boss, was suspended last weekend. He will also be able to ride in the Melbourne Cup.