Top jockey Declan Bates has been dropped by Pride Of Jenni’s owner for their Champions Mile defence at Flemington on Saturday, with Ben Melham called up to steer the mare.

The 36-year-old has ridden the mare to three Group 1 victories — including last year’s $3m Champions Mile and the $5m Queen Elizabeth Stakes earlier this year — but he will not get the chance again this weekend.

Just hours after Bates raced in the Melbourne Cup, it emerged Pride Of Jenni’s owner Tony Ottobre had opted to break up the race-winning combination.

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“It has been a huge privilege to ride Pride Of Jenni, one that has been the greatest experience of my riding career so far,” Bates said on Wednesday.

“She certainly is a once-in-a-life-time horse. I wish her and Tony all the best for Saturday. I look forward to continuing my relationship with the Ottobre family in the future.”

Melham will now ride Pride Of Jenni for a fresh approach in what is expected to be her final race of the season.

The seven-year-old finished eighth of nine runners in the 2040m Cox Plate late last month, finishing 16 lengths behind record-setting winner Via Sistina.

“Just raced a bit flat,” Bates said after the race.

“I knew a long way out she wasn’t taking me away from them, I was just having to ask her to do it a bit.

“She seemed to pull up well and hopefully she does, but just a bit flat today.”

Bates was first aboard Pride Of Jenni in 2021 while the likes of Jamie Kah, Jye McNeil, Blake Shinn and Robbie Dolan also had rides before he became her regular jockey last year.

He claimed two victories in a week at Flemington — including the Champions Mile — in the 2023 spring carnival.

Pride Of Jenni was expected to have been spelled after the Cox Plate late last month but Ottobre and trainer Ciaron Maher opted to have another crack at the Champions Mile, and will now do so with a new rider.

Melham claimed a win at Flemington on Melbourne Cup Day, taking Manolo Bling to victory in Race 4.

He rode two Maher-trained contenders — Convener (ninth in Race 5) and Strawberry Rock (fourth in Race 6).

The 36-year-old has 21 Group 1 victories to his name.

Elsewhere in the Champions Mile, Craig Williams remains on board top contender Mr Brightside after they fell one length short of Pride Of Jenni last year.

James McDonald will also ride Fangirl (fourth in 2023) once again.