Three jockeys who enjoyed a wild late-night party at an Airbnb in Victoria leaving it trashed with 'blood and wine stains' lodge appeals after they are suspended from racing for three months

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Three Victorian jockeys banned from the Spring Carnival for attending an illegal Airbnb party, have lodged appeals against the penalties imposed by racing stewards.

Mark Zahra, Ben Melham and Ethan Brown stayed at the Mornington Peninsula property last Wednesday with top rider Jamie Kah and apprentice jockey Celine Gaudray.

All five pleaded guilty to 'failure or refusal to comply with an order, direction, or requirement of the stewards or an official'.

Jockey Ben Melham (pictured) has lodged appeals against penalties imposed by racing stewards alongside Mark Zahra and Ethan Brown

Jamie Kah (pictured) has apologised for her actions but has so far not joined the appeal bid 

Stewards last week suspended their racing licences for three months, meaning none of them can ride in the 2021 Spring Racing carnival.

Zahra, Melham and Brown have each lodged appeals against the riding bans and fines imposed, while Kah has apologised for her behaviour and so far has not joined the appeal bid.

'I am deeply embarrassed and disappointed with myself,' she said on Friday in a statement on Twitter.

Several cleaning crew, steam cleaners and a mobile pool cleaner were required to scour an Airbnb property (pictured) that held illegal party attended by star jockey Jamie Kah

Meanwhile, it's also emerged that further charges have been laid against the jockeys for allegedly lying about the party.

Stewards say when they questioned Mark Zahra on August 28, he claimed he wasn't at the Airbnb, but then changed his story later that day and admitted being present.

'The evidence tendered by Mark Zahra to RV Stewards during the interview on the morning of 28 August 2021 is alleged to be false and/or misleading,' the steward's report states.

Brown, Kah, Melham and Gaudray are also accused of covering up for Zahra, by failing to tell stewards he was at the house.

All five riders will again face the tribunal on the false evidence charges, while Melham, Zahra and Brown will also have an appeal directions hearing.

All five pleaded guilty to 'failure or refusal to comply with an order, direction, or requirement of the stewards or an official' when they breached Covid rules in the Mornington Peninsula (pictured)  residence

The racing industry has been allowed to keep operating under Covid restrictions, and Racing Victoria says more than 750 race meetings have been held safely since the pandemic began.        

Leading hoop Jamie Kah, 25, who is engaged to fellow rider Clayton Douglas, was charged with breaking curfew rules in Victoria and fined $5,452.

It will prove to be an expensive mistake, with the nation's best female rider, who rode over 100 winners this season, banned from the lucrative Spring Carnival, where she could have earned up to $300,000. 

Gun jockey Jamie Kah (pictured) let her hair down this week with fellow jockeys in breach of Covid rules following relationship dramas with fiancé Clayton Douglas ( the couple, pictured above) 

Ms Kah and Mr Douglas have reportedly been living apart recently as the couple work through 'relationship difficulties,' the Herald Sun reported.

A cleaner at the Airbnb Ms Kah was living in has claimed the luxury holiday house was trashed after the illegal party.

The cleaner found what she believed to be blood stains and wine marks smeared on the floors and even the couch at the lavish short-stay rental in Mornington, south of Melbourne, when she arrived on Friday afternoon. 

Several other workers and steam cleaners were required to scrub the three-level property, which sold for $1,225,000 last year. 

Jockey Jamie Kah issued an apology via Twitter on Friday writing, 'I am deeply embarrassed and disappointed with myself'

The Mornington Airbnb owners were reportedly under the impression the booking was made by essential workers according to an apology letter penned to neighbours

'The place was totally trashed, an absolute mess,' the cleaner told the Herald Sun earlier this week.

'There was blood everywhere, on the couch. The red wine looked like it had been walked through the house.'  

A neighbour, who wished not be named, told the publication she knew the owners of the house, saying they were 'extremely apologetic and angry about what happened'.

She also heard the police bang on the door of the rental home just after midnight, saying: 'It got really noisy. You could literally hear everything.'      

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 5km radius and in breach of curfew,' Victoria Police said in a statement. 

All six were fined $5,452 each for breaching the directions of the chief health officer. 

The four riders also pleaded guilty to charges laid by racing stewards, of 'failure or refusal to comply with an order, direction, or requirement of the stewards or an official'.

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 

Kah has apologised for her behaviour.

'I am deeply embarrassed and disappointed with myself,' she said in a statement on Twitter.

'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.'

Cleaners described the rental as 'totally trashed' witnessing blood and wine stains on the carpet and couch

A two-day racing tribunal inquiry into the incident concluded on Friday.

The suspension expires at midnight on November 25.

The stewards said they took into account the riders' guilty pleas and expressions of remorse, but the penalties had to be sufficient to deter others from Covid breaches. 

Ethan Brown was one of four jockeys stood down for 14 days after alleged Covid breach

Victorian Health Minister Martin Foley said he was 'bitterly disappointed' with the jockeys.

'We are always disappointed when people do not follow the rules and we understand Racing Victoria are taking immediate measures and ... will send a strong message,' he told reporters on Friday.

Racing Victoria chief executive Giles Thompson condemned 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 in a statement on Thursday.

He also warned of the 'critical need' for the industry to follow Covid-19 directives ahead of the Spring Racing carnival.

The racing industry has been allowed to keep operating under Covid restrictions and Racing Victoria says more than 750 race meetings have been held safely since the pandemic began.

Last year's Melbourne Cup carnival was held without spectators at the usually packed Flemington Racecourse.