Ireland's Kieren Fallon, a six-time champion jockey in Britain, will be allowed to ride in the Melbourne Cup next month after he was granted a local licence, Racing Victoria Ltd (RVL) said.

The 41-year-old, who has been banned from riding in Britain since July while he awaits fraud charges, was invited by RVL last week to apply for a licence to let him take part in Australia's Spring Carnival racing programme.

The application was granted on Wednesday and Fallon is free to ride the Irish stayer Yeats, winner of the Gold Cup events at Ascot and Goodwood, in the two-mile showpiece event of the Carnival at Flemington Park on November 7.

"Kieren Francis Fallon will be permitted to ride in this year's Spring Racing Carnival after Racing Victoria Limited today approved the Irish jockey's application for a Victorian "A" (flat) riders' licence," the RVL statement said on Wednesday.

Fallon, retained by the Coolmore conglomerate, will be riding in Australia for the first time in the A$5.1 million (US$3.92 million) Group One event.

Yeats, awarded top weight of 59kgs for the Melbourne Cup, will be aiming to become only the third European-based horse to win the event in 146 years after Vintage Crop (1993) and Media Puzzle (2002).

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