Four jockeys including top rider Jamie Kah have been fined for breaching Victoria’s lockdown restrictions by staying at a Mornington Airbnb.
Jamie Kah, Ethan Brown, Ben Melham and apprentice jockey Celine Gaudray were at the Melbourne rental home with two other people on Wednesday night.
Police were called to the Tallis Drive property due to a noise complaint just before midnight, reportedly after a tip-off from an estranged partner of one of the jockeys.
‘Upon arrival officers located six people inside, all allegedly outside their five km radius and in breach of curfew,’ Victoria Police said in a statement.
They have each been fined $5452 for breaching the directions of the Chief Health Officer.
The four jockeys, who are all in isolation, have been banned from race meetings for 14 days meaning Kah and Melham won’t be racing Group 1 Memsie Stakes favourites Behemoth and Beau Rossa respectively at Caulfield Racecourse on Saturday.
Champion jockey Jamie Kah (left) and three other riders including apprentice Celine Gaudray (right) have been fined for breaking Melbourne’s lockdown for an Airbnb party
The four jockeys were all outside of their 5km radius and breaking Melbourne’s curfew when they were found at an Airbnb in Mornington Peninsula (stock above), police allege
In a statement on twitter, Kah said she wanted to apologise for her behaviour.
‘I am deeply embarrassed and disappointed with myself,’ she said.
‘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.’
A two day racing tribunal inquiry into the incident concluded on Friday.
The suspension begins at midnight on 26 August 2021 and expires at midnight on 25 November 2021.
The jockeys have been banned from race meetings and licensed venues for at least two weeks, and until cleared by stewards and negative COVID-19 tests have been provided.
But they will be allowed to do trackwork, jump-outs and official trials after September 9.
Racing Victoria chief executive Giles Thompson on Thursday issued a statement condemning the riders’ actions.
‘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,’ he said.
He cautioned the breaches did not reflect the rest of the industry, which was working hard to comply with the rules.
‘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,’ he said.
He also warned of the ‘critical need’ for the industry to follow COVID-19 directives ahead of the Spring Racing carnival.
Jockey Ben Melham won’t be racing Group 1 Memsie Stakes favourite Beau Rossa at Melbourne’s Caulfield Racecourse on Saturday
Ethan Brown was one of four jockeys stood down for 14 days after alleged Covid breach
RV stewards found the jockeys had breached state government stay-at-home orders, and in so doing the requirements of the racing body.
The jockeys have been banned from race meetings and licensed venues for at least two weeks, and until cleared by stewards and negative COVID-19 tests have been provided.
Victoria’s health minister Martin Foley slammed the jockeys for the alleged breach.
‘We are all bitterly disappointed. We are always disappointed when people do not follow the rules and we understand racing Victoria are taking immediate measures and would take more measures and will send a strong message,’ he said on Friday.
It comes after Dan Andrews unleashed on ‘selfish’ Victorians for waiting up to a week to get tested despite having symptoms, with 79 new cases recorded on Friday.
The Victorian Premier said the harsh stay-at-home measures would remain in place if residents continue to ‘break the rules’.
‘The longer people break the rules, the longer these rules will be on,’ Mr Andrews warned.
The state’s sixth lockdown is scheduled to end on September 2, but with a high number of mystery cases and people infectious in the community, it is expected to be extended.
‘We will make all of those decisions based on the most up-to-date advice and at the moment, with another six days to go, it is too early to make that call,’ Mr Foley said.
Victorians trapped in their sixth gruelling coronavirus lockdown were warned by Daniel Andrews (pictured on Thursday) that the harsh stay-at-home measures would remain in place if residents continue to ‘break the rules’
Several state premiers have voiced their concern that ending Australia’s zero-Covid strategy by doing away with lockdowns and crippling interstate border closures could see a surge in infections and deaths.
But expert number-crunchers at the Doherty Institute have revised a report for National Cabinet’s four-phase reopening plan, with their data finding it would be safe to end many onerous restrictions even with high cases numbers once 70 per cent vaccination coverage is reached.
In recent weeks the Queensland, Western Australian and Victorian governments threatened to renege on the national plan as daily infection rates in New South Wales continued to surge – surpassing 1,000 cases for the first time on Thursday.
The four-phase plan indicates Australia can move into phase two when 70 per cent of the adult population is fully-vaccinated.
With only one third of people aged 16 and over now double-dosed, Australia is not likely to reach the target until the end of October if current vaccination rates are maintained.
Based on that assumption, coverage of 80 per cent is expected to be completed in November – but overseas, including in the UK, US and Israel, vaccination rates have dropped significantly after the 60 per cent mark.
Mr Andrews had previously voiced concerns about opening up with skyrocketed infection rates, but later maintained he’s committed to the National Cabinet plan.