Zahra to cite cost of his ban

CAULFIELD Cup winner Mark Zahra will highlight earnings from the past three spring carnivals in his appeal against the severity of a threemonth ban for attending the illegal Airbnb jockey party.

Zahra’s barrister Patrick Wheelahan told a Victorian Racing Tribunal the 39-yearold jockey would plead guilty to the Covid breach and a separate charge of allegedly misleading stewards.

The appeal relates directly to the timing and length of the spring carnival-ending sanction.

Wheelahan asked the VRT to consider the appeal “on the papers” in writing, with submissions to be served on Monday.

A backup directions hearing was scheduled for Thursday should the appeal not be resolved.

Zahra pocketed more than $200,000 last spring from his three biggest wins alone, including $150,000 for the Caulfield Cup triumph aboard Verry Elleegant.

The Group 1 Turnbull Stakes (Verry Elleegant) and Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes (Fierce Impact) wins added $50,000 to the kitty.

Jockeys receive 5 per cent of any prizemoney earned by their mounts.

Zahra was the fifth jockey hit with spring carnival-ending bans for being at the Mornington Airbnb party with Jamie Kah, Ben Melham, Ethan Brown and Celine Gaudray.