Star jockey Jamie Kah is free to ride during the upcoming spring carnival after signalling an intention to contest a misconduct charge over her part in a white powder controversy.
Kah, 27, faced a Victorian Racing Tribunal directions hearing on Wednesday to answer the charge of conduct prejudicial to the image, interests, integrity or welfare of racing.
Barrister Matthew Stirling told the VRT Kah intended to plead not guilty.
“If we could indicate that we do not intend to file any further material, we are content to rely on the interview transcript material which is currently within the brief,” Stirling said.
“Depending upon whether Racing Victoria wishes to call further evidence … the case would then really fall to legal argument it appears to us.
“It’s obviously for Racing Victoria as prosecutor to explain how it is the alleged conduct translates to the commission of an offence under AR228.”
Australian Rule of Racing AR 228 states: A person must not engage in: (a) conduct prejudicial to the image, interests, integrity, or welfare of racing, whether or not that conduct takes place within a racecourse or elsewhere.
The matter will return to the VRT for a two-day hearing to start on November 13 – after the Melbourne Cup Carnival.
A hearing date in late-October was originally discussed, however, senior legal counsel Marwan El-Asmar, acting on behalf of RV stewards, flagged a clash with the spring carnival.
“It’s just been brought to my attention those dates we’re looking at happens to be the middle of the spring carnival,” El-Asmar said.
“I think the 25th October may well be Geelong Cup day and then we have the Cox Plate on the Saturday and then Derby Day, Melbourne Cup.
“It’s just occurred to me that period of time is really smack bang in the spring carnival.”
Stewards have compiled a comprehensive 270-page brief on the matter.
Judge John Bowman ordered any further materials to be relied upon by either party must be filed and served by November 1.
It is alleged Kah was filmed by a friend, registered stablehand Ruby McIntyre, appearing to arrange a white substance into three lines with an identification card during a gathering at her home on June 17-18.
McIntyre shared a recording and images of Kah and her housemate Jacob Biddell, a greyhound trainer, with person(s) not in attendance.
The vision was leaked to the Herald Sun and publication led to a stewards’ investigation.
Greyhound Racing Victoria suspended Biddell for one month, wholly and conditionally suspended for six months, after finding him guilty of conduct detrimental to the interests of racing.
Biddell pleaded not guilty.
McIntyre, who also signalled a not guilty plea, will front the VRT on the October 23-24.
Kah will make her long-awaited return to race riding on Saturday in Sydney to partner champion Zaaki in the Group 1 $1m Winx Stakes.
Kah sustained a severe concussion and head injury in a fall at Flemington in March.
The nine-time Group 1 winner has been riding trackwork since June and competed in official trials the past fortnight in Melbourne and Sydney.
