Melbourne’s riding ranks will be boosted by the return of two star jockeys, Jamie Kah and Ben Melham.
Melham has not ridden since sustaining a severe leg injury in a fall on the Caulfield Heath track in April.
Melham ruptured a quadricep muscle, which required a rehabilitation period before being able to resume.
The 36-year-old has four rides at Wednesday’s Sandown Hillside meeting.
TAB rated Melham a $9 chance to make a winning return aboard the Mick Price and Michael Kent Jr-trained Khabalov in the Sportsbet Photo Finish Refund Handicap (1200m).
Cranbourne trainer Clinton McDonald has also booked Melham to ride Unlimited Magic in the Tobin Brothers Celebrating Lives Handicap (1400m) as well as Holly Lolly in the Tile Importer Handicap (1200m).
Greg Eurell has secured Melham’s services for Teser in the Sportsbet Feed Handicap (1400m).
Injury has hampered Melham’s season, leaving him with only 31 wins for the 2023/24 campaign but a quarter of those have been in stakes races.
• Willie’s mission impossible: Pike on track for premiership despite injury
Melham and Kah at The Festival of Racing Launch in February.
Despite his injuries, Melham won the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas on Griff in the spring and a second successive Australian Cup on Godolphin stalwart, Cascadian.
Melham’s partner, champion jockey Jamie Kah, will be back from holidays at Flemington on Saturday.
• Cameron Happ’s Sandown tips: ‘Can’t see her being beaten’
Kah has enjoyed an amazing 2024, culminating in two Group 1 wins in her home state South Australia during the autumn before heading off for a break following a successful Brisbane Winter Carnival stint.
Kah also steered home three Group 1 winners on successive Saturdays during the Melbourne Autumn Carnival.
Kah won the Blue Diamond Stakes on Hayasugi, Australian Guineas on Southport Tycoon and Newmarket Handicap on Cylinder.
The couple also drew the praise of Leah Ellerton for their assistance when her husband, Flemington trainer Mathew Ellerton, suffered a stroke while on holiday in Bali.