Star jockey Jamie Kah handed three-week ban on eve of Melbourne spring carnival

Star jockey Jamie Kah has been found guilty by the Victorian Racing Tribunal and has been hit with a three-week suspension on the eve of the Melbourne spring carnival.

The 28-year-old was charged last week after failing to give her mount the best possible chance in a race late last month.

Stewards probed her ride aboard Let'sfacethemusic in the Group 3 McNeil Stakes at Caulfield on August 31.

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Stewards found Kah failed to accelerate through a gap between two horses ahead of her, which ended up running third and fourth while Let'sfacethemusic ($8.50) finished in fifth.

"Between approximately the 175m and approximately the 100m, Ms Kah failed to ride her mount with sufficient vigour or purpose to improve her position between Band Of Brothers and Stay Focused where there was sufficient room and when it was reasonable and permissible to do so," the charge read.

"And/or: Over approximately the final 75m, Ms Kah failed to ride her mount with sufficient vigour when it was reasonable and permissible to do so."

At the hearing on Thursday, judge Kathryn Kings upheld the stewards' ruling.

"We are satisfied that between the 175m and approximately 50m mark there was sufficient gap and opportunity to ride your mount with sufficient vigour or purpose to improve your position," she said.

In explaining herself to stewards initially, Kah admitted she did not ride well at Caulfield the entire meeting.

She had eight rides, winning one race and finishing second in another.

"I just didn't feel like I rode that well," Kah said.

"I saw (the gap) moving in front of me and I don't know, I didn't feel comfortable taking the run.

"I don't take runs that aren't there and at the point in the race, I didn't feel like there was a run there for long enough to take."

The owner of Let'sfacethemusic - Phil Edwards - had no issue with Kah's ride on his horse.

"(It was a) small field and I think there was nowhere to go whatsoever, one of those variables in racing, doesn't play out as you wish," Edwards said.

"Circumstances didn't go our way and work our way in any way, shape or form."

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Kah has been one of the best jockeys in Victoria for a number of years and is considered a leading chance to become the second female to ride a Melbourne Cup winner.

Michelle Payne in 2015 remains the only to do so.

Kah sat out several months of last year after a serious race fall left her with head injuries in March.

- with Liam O'Loughlin