Shinn reserved his plea then said he would consider his options in regard to an appeal after Racing NSW stewards charged him over two incidents in the back straight in the Thai Chay Handicap (1900m) aboard Halfwaytolondon.

Stewards were satisfied Brenton Avdulla on Glenstal Abbey had established a run to the outside of the leader Signoret’s heels entering the back straight.

They found that Shinn, who came from behind and to the outside of Avdulla, twice directed his mount inwards towards Avdulla’s horse in an attempt to pocket him, placing Avdulla in a dangerous position.

It was the first time since Shinn started his career in 2003 that he has been charged with improper riding.

“In terms of Blake Shinn’s riding style, it’s not something I can recall seeing from you since you’ve been in Sydney,” senior steward Greg Rudolph said to Shinn.

“I disagree,” Shinn replied.

“I’m a very competitive rider and I ride competitive all the time. Obviously I’ve misjudged it slightly here and I’ve got it wrong.

“I’m not going to stop riding the way I am, I’ve just got to address certain issues with my riding in some areas.”

The two gallopers made contact up to eight times down the back straight.

Avdulla was noticeably upset when returning to scale and even told stewards he thought what happened was “absolutely disgusting” when giving his evidence.

Shinn’s suspension is set to start after Sunday’s Randwick meeting and he is free to resume riding on July 2.

Shinn won the Melbourne Cup aboard Viewed in 2008 and was a Sydney premiership winner in season 2007/08.

He served a 12-month disqualification from November 2010 for betting on races and returned to the saddle late last year.

His suspension rules him out of the rest of the Brisbane winter carnival.

Shinn’s week was soured at Canterbury on Wednesday when he was suspended for six weeks on an improper riding charge with the penalty to begin after he rides this weekend.

Despite the setback, Shinn is looking forward to Scone where has a strong book of mounts.

Upbeat, one of three stakeswinners set to contest the $500,000 Inglis 3YO Guineas (1400m), has been installed third favourite at $9.50 with TAB Sportsbet.

Gosford Guineas winner Pampelonne is the $2.50 elect just ahead of Phar Lap Stakes winner Colorado Claire at $3.40.

The Guineas is the feature race on the final day of the two-day Scone Cup carnival along with the Listed $200,000 Dark Jewel Classic (1400m) for fillies and mares.

Shinn won the Group Two Autumn Classic (1800m) on the Anthony Cummings-trained Upbeat in February and is looking forward to partnering him in the race on Saturday.

“He’s resuming off a little let-up and trialled very well at Warwick Farm the other day,” Shinn said.

“He’s a good quality horse that’s obviously won at Group Two level.

“It’s quite a strong race with Pampelonne and Colorado Claire in there but apart from that there doesn’t appear to be really much depth.

“He appears to be one of the hardest to beat and he couldn’t be in any better shape going into the race.”

The Scone Inglis Guineas was introduced three years ago and last year was staged at the club’s inaugural stand-alone Saturday meeting.

Shinn was serving a 12-month disqualification when the two-day Scone Cup carnival was held last year but he is looking forward to hopefully making his presence felt this time around.

“I saw the carnival on TV (last year) and I’m looking forward to getting there,” Shinn said.

“There’s some great prizemoney on offer and it looked a great atmosphere.”

In the Dark Jewel, Shinn will team with Potions for the Patinack Farm team.

Potions was a fast-finishing third in the Listed Darley Crown (1300m) at Hawkesbury last start won by the Gai Waterhouse-trained More Strawberries.

More Strawberries is the equal $4.40 favourite for the Dark Jewel along with last year’s winner Shannara, while Potions is at $13.

“She’s going very well and her run at Hawkesbury was excellent,” Shinn said of Potions.

“She’s got no weight on her back (54kg) and the Scone track is going to suit her. It looks a great race for her.”

Shinn’s rides also include Motspur for Kris Lees in the Prydes Easifeed Quality Hcp (1100m).

The Rob Heathcote-trained speedster was the pre-post favourite for last Saturday’s BTC Cup but was scratched after failing to recover from a stone bruise.

However, Heathcote is confident Buffering will be right for the 1350 metre weight-for-age feature on Saturday week and has paid up for him to run.

Stablemate and Oakleigh Plate winner Woorim is also among the entries along with BTC Cup winner Sea Siren for John O’Shea.

There are 22 horses still in the mix for the Doomben 10,000 including last year’s winner Beaded, the Tony Gollan-trained pair of Temple Of Boom and Spirit of Boom and Albert The Fat for Chris Waller.

Final acceptances for the race will be taken next Wednesday.

The Cranbourne trainer, who was devastated when Cox Plate victor Pinker Pinker died suddenly following a routine injection several weeks ago, said he was looking forward to the spring with younger horses such as Love For Ransom, Force Command and Hosting.

“We certainly hit a flat spot losing the mare,” Eurell said.

“That’s one thing about this caper, you never know what’s going to happen.”

Love For Ransom, sent out a $4.20 chance in the Coates Hire Plate (1200m) and ridden by Chris Symons, scored by a half-length from Jacaranda Avenue with Alzora a short-neck away third.

“She certainly shows some ability. Every time she has come in and gone out she has always improved,” Eurell said of the Red Ransom filly.

“I think what we see is good but I’m looking forward to when she’s three-years-old.

“She may have one more run before she goes to the paddock. I’ll just wait and see how she comes through this race.”

Raced by breeder Valda Klaric along with Ivan Cajkusic, Love For Ransom is a half-sister to provincial winner and city placed Zuckerberg.

Her grand-dam is 1992 AJC Oaks winner My Brilliant Star.

Symons said when Love For Ransom missed the start he had to resort to plan B.

“But I wanted to be there on the turn so I had to make a move,” Symons said.

“She got there quick and I just held her together and I was always confident she was going to let go.

“She loves the wet which really helped.”

Betrayal stepped out for his second start in the Airr Handicap (1250m) at Canterbury on Wednesday and led all the way as a short-priced favourite.

His two-length victory prompted TAB Sportsbet to trim the colt’s price to $6 for the TJ Smith (1600m) at Eagle Farm on June 9, behind favourite Sizzling at $2.80.

Waterhouse said she would let the dust settle before deciding what to do with Betrayal.

“I just don’t know, I’ll let the dust settle and talk to Denise (Martin from Star Thoroughbreds),” Waterhouse said.

“He could even be a chance of going north to Brisbane but let’s see how the form is out of this race.

“His improvement from his first start to today has been a quantum leap and he’s an exciting horse.

“It’s not impossible (for him to go to the TJ Smith) but I’ll just have a look in the next week or so. They can either go one way or the other.

“If he was to win a race like that he would be a valuable colt.”

Waterhouse continued to apply pressure to leader Chris Waller in the race for the Sydney trainers’ premiership with an early double courtesy of Battant and Betrayal.

Her pair of winners moved her to 91 Sydney wins for the season and briefly pegged Waller’s lead back to four before Waller notched his 96th Sydney winner this term with Miss Milanese.

Waller then had to settle for a dead-heat in the sixth event when More Rocco lunged late to finish locked with the Paul Perry-trained Kirinata on the line.

“He did a bit of work being three-wide the entire trip and still finished the race off well,” Waller said of More Rocco.

“Half a win might come in handy at the end of the season.”

Waller snapped a run of 41 outs with Miss Milanese’s victory which included seconds to Waterhouse-trained runners in the opening two races on Wednesday.

“We’ve had a lot of placings of late and you get a bit frustrated but the team is doing a great job,” Waller said.

“They are turning them out in good condition and that’s all you can ask for. Eventually the winners will start to stream through.”

The six year-old, a forgotten horse at $26 with TAB Sportsbet for Saturday’s Listed Andrew Ramsden Stakes, has contested nearly half of his 46 career runs in the past six months.

The Ramsden will be his 21st start this campaign, which began on November 3 last year and has resulted in him racing almost 43,000 metres.

With so many kilometres in his legs he more than satisfies the time-honoured 10,000 metres Bart Cummings requires for his horses heading into the 3200 metres of a Melbourne Cup.

High Kingczar is one of only two horses trained by accountant Michael Ryan, who is looking for his biggest pay day at Flemington on Saturday.

The gelding’s last start third behind Dame Claire and Almodovar over 2800 metres at Flemington two weeks ago was a super trial for the Ramsden.

High Kingczar meets both gallopers 2kg better on Saturday and he was strong at the end of 3000 metres when beaten a long neck at Moonee Valley on March 12.

“He’s out of a Jeune mare and if he’s better at the 3200 metres, which we hope, he should be right in the finish on Saturday,” Ryan said.

He said that despite his long campaign, High Kingczar appeared to be improving.

“He’s incredibly consistent and just loves racing,” Ryan said.

“He shows no signs of stress and he probably looks better now than he did a month ago.

“He looks fantastic.”

During his past 20 starts, High Kingczar has posted consecutive wins at Mornington and Kilmore in January while also registering placings at Bendigo, Moonee Valley, Sale (twice), Werribee, Bendigo and Flemington.

The Ramsden would be his first city victory and the $90,000 winner’s cheque would nearly double his prizemoney earnings during a career which has featured six wins and 10 minor placings.

Former New Zealander Maythehorsebemagic ($3.30) is the Ramsden favourite despite disappointing when eighth in the Warrnambool Cup.

Prior to that he scored a four-length win at his Australian debut at Caulfield on April 9.

Almodovar ($4), jumper Kirribilli Gold ($5) – a six-length winner on the flat at Sandown last week, Streaky Fella ($6.50) and Dame Claire ($7.50) are others prominent in the market.

Three-time Melbourne Cup winning jockey Glen Boss will partner 86-start maiden Vote For Lust at the Mildura Cup meeting on Sunday.

Best known for his association with champion mare Makybe Diva who he rode to three successive Melbourne Cup victories, Boss has taken five rides at Mildura including the Mick Price-trained Faster Son in the feature Mildura Cup (1400m).

But getting Vote For Lust home a winner in the 1800m maiden is likely to be too great a challenge even for Boss.

In a desperate attempt to break one of the longest losing streaks in Australian racing history, Boss has been engaged to ride the John Castleman-trained nine-year-old.

Vote For Lust is sponsored by wagering operator Betfair which also has a sponsorship agreement with the Mildura Racing Club.

“I am really excited about heading to Mildura on Sunday. Vote For Lust has developed a cult following and if my involvement can help the Mildura Club on their annual Cup day, that’s fantastic,” Boss said.

Betfair’s media and communications manager Mathew Thompson said the sponsorship of Vote For Lust had generated a lot of interest.

“I am staggered by the groundswell of public support for Vote For Lust since we started our sponsorship in January,” Thompson said.

“He’s a horse that typifies the notion of the Aussie battler and we are proud to have played a part in highlighting this great racing story.”

Castleman is rapt to have the world-renowned Boss in the saddle and hasn’t yet given up on his horse.

“I know it’s his 87th start but he’s cherry-ripe for Cup day and I reckon the old boy has a hoof on the till,” Castleman said.

Mildura Race Club CEO Aaron Garvie says the appearances of Boss and Vote For Lust will be a significant drawcard.

Vote For Lust, who ran last at Swan Hill at his race debut in December 2005, has been placed 10 times and earned $21,532.

He has been unplaced at his past 12 starts.

The mare shares equal topweight of 59kg with stablemate Western Symbol who jumps to 2400 metre after going down narrowly last start in the Rowley Mile (1600m) at Hawkesbury.

Prior to that Western Symbol strung together successive black type wins in the Hong Kong Jockey Club Stakes and JRA Plate, both over 2000m.

Waterhouse has also nominated Reuben Percival and Two For Tea for the feature with both weighted on the 54kg minimum.

Chris Waller has entered Hawk Island (58.5kg) and Firebolt (55.5.kg), the only other runners above the limit.

The Greg Hickman-trained Group One winner Mirjulisa Lass and Bid Spotter for the recently created training partnership of Lee Freedman and Graeme Rogerson are also among the entries.

The McKell Cup is the feature event on Sunday’s seven-race card which follows the two-day Scone carnival on Friday and Saturday.

Sadler managed to keep the Mike Moroney-trained Lordoftheparrots straight despite the gelding wanting to lay-in up the straight in the National Jockeys’ Trust Hcp (2100m).

Sent out at $4.40, the five-year-old raced clear to score by 2-1/4 lengths from Summarise with the winner’s stablemate Balmoral 2-3/4 lengths away third.

The 17-year-old Sadler, who began race riding at the start of the current season last August, was apprenticed to his father, Flemington-based Malua Racing trainer John Sadler until Monday when he began a stint on loan to Aquanita Racing’s Robert Smerdon at Caulfield.

“I thought young Thomas rode him a treat. It was a fantastic ride and as Robert (Smerdon) said to me, ‘I’ve only had him a couple of days and improved him’,” said Moroney’s racing manager Anthony Feroce.

The win was Sadler’s 37th overall.

“I think I’ve had about 30 rides in town for about 10 placings,” Sadler said.

“It’s definitely good to get the monkey off the back.

“Even getting to the line I was worried about keeping the horse straight and as soon as I got to the line it sunk in that I had my first city winner.”

Sadler’s family is steeped in racing on both sides with his father a top trainer, while his brother Edward is a race caller, following the same path as his maternal grandfather the late Frank O’Brien.

Malua Racing was also successful at the Lakeside meeting with Lady Melksham ($3.70) who was ridden by Damien Oliver to a narrow win in the Responsible Gambling Awareness Week Hcp (1200m).

The filly is yet to taste defeat having won her only other start in a Sale three-year-old maiden in April.

Lady Melksham sports the black and red colours of AFL club Essendon and is raced by their supporter group the Essendonians.

She is named after Essendon footballer Jake Melksham.

“She did a lot wrong and it takes a good one to do that and still manage to win. She’s gone up in my estimation,” said Malua Racing representative Troy Corstens.

“It would be nice to be able to win one on a Saturday.

“We might keep her going on the wet tracks while she’s rock-hard fit and give her the spring off.

“There are plenty of black type races in the autumn.”

Lloyd, 50, wants it known his decision to quit Hong Kong and base himself at the Gold Coast is not related to thoughts of retirement.

The winner of six South African jockeys’ premierships, Lloyd has six rides at Doomben on Saturday including New Zealander Booming who has drawn barrier three in the Group One Doomben Cup (2000m).

He has four rides for Patinack Farm aboard Gathering (Lord Mayor’s Cup), Boys On Tour (Fred Best Classic), Sookie (Champagne Classic) and Just Been Lucky (Glenlogan Park Stakes) while he’ll also partner the Toby Edmonds-trained Rocksan in the Group Three The Roses.

“I’m here to compete at the highest level and do my best and I’ve got no thoughts of living here in semi-retirement,” Lloyd said.

“I want to ride at all the major carnivals. My plan is to ride trackwork for Patinack Farm as well as at the Gold Coast and in Brisbane.”

Lloyd has ridden in nine countries, winning more than 4500 races and 90 Group Ones during his stellar career.

He knows little about Booming’s ability but plans to study videos of the seven-year-old’s recent New Zealand performances.

“It’s good to be back. I’ve been away for three years after riding for 18 months in Sydney,” Lloyd said.

“I don’t know much about Booming but I’ll be doing my homework and I’ll look at his videos.”

The Jeff Lynds-trained Booming finished fourth in the Group One Auckland Cup (3200m) in March and was given a let-up before his last start fourth in the Listed Manawatu Anzac Handicap (1600m).

“It was a really fantastic run in the Auckland Cup. He was three-wide all the way then had to come 10-wide on the home turn and he still finished fourth,” Lynds said.

Booming arrived for the winter carnival on Tuesday and is being aimed at next month’s Group Two Eagle Farm Cup (2200m) and Group Two Brisbane Cup (2400m).

Lynds had to abort Booming’s Melbourne Cup campaign last spring when he suffered a leg infection following his ninth to Niwot in the Lexus Stakes (2500m) at Flemington in October.

For a seven-year-old, Booming has only been lightly raced with 38 starts for eight wins including two at the top level in the Zabeel Classic at Ellerslie in 2010 and Thorndon Mile at Trentham last year.

Lynds is looking for a good track for Booming and is confident of a strong showing in the weight-for-age feature.

“He’s a handy competitor between 2000 and 2400 metres and he’s proven at weight-for-age,” he said.