Melham to return from injury at Sandown

Ben Melham is to return at Sandown after suffering a serious wrist injury in a fall at The Valley.

Multiple Group One-winning jockey Ben Melham is set for his return to race riding having spent three months on the sidelines recovering from a broken wrist.

Melham sustained the injury when he fell from Voodoo Lad in the home straight in the Group One William Reid Stakes at The Valley in March.

Voodoo Lad suffered a serious racing injury and had to be humanely euthanised, while Melham suffered multiple fractures to a wrist.

The injury ruled Melham out of some big autumn carnival races, including the ride on star sprinter Santa Ana Lane who won the $2.5 million Group One TJ Smith Stakes at Randwick in April.

Melham returns on Wednesday at Sandown where he is booked for three rides for trainer Cindy Alderson.

And while Melham says his wrist is back to 100 per cent, his weight and fitness will only continue to improve once he gets back to race riding.

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“I’m certainly happy to be back,” Melham told RSN927.

“My wrist is fine now. It did take a little bit. I had six fractures in there and a plate and screws.

“I’ve actually broken it a couple of times before, prior to that, so it’s a bit of a mess in there but it seems to be holding up really well now.

“I’ve still got a little bit of improvement to come weight-wise but I felt I had done enough in the gym and stuff like that and it was time to get back.

“It will be good to be back at the races and have a bit of a hit-out and I’ve certainly got room for improvement, weight-wise.

“Hopefully I can kick off with a winner tomorrow and improve from there.”