One of the best racing stewards in my time was cigar-smoking, Akubra-wearing Clive Morgan, and he had a significant comment relating to protests: "It is hard enough to win a race; it's even harder to take one off someone." This quotable quote was produced years ago after he had upheld a protest at Eagle Farm.

Morgan, a former amateur jockey and trainer, had the admirable ability to blend compassion with compliance and the rigid rules of racing during his distinguished career as a steward in Brisbane. He was one of the most astute race readers I knew in a time when stewards didn't have the high-grade race coverage technology of present times.

The Magic Millions last Saturday at the Gold Coast underlined the uncertainty of protests which prompted my fond memories of Mr Morgan's statement of years ago. As always, opinions are divided on the ultimate result of racing protests. One of the great words in the English dictionary, though, is imponderable, the literal meaning being something that cannot be estimated. And in many cases protest decisions are perfect examples of an imponderable.

How can anyone accurately assess, beyond reasonable doubt, that some bouts of interference altered the result of a race? Judging a race isn't an exact science and, basically, relies heavily on ‘what may have been'. In reaching their finding the stewards only have to be "comfortably satisfied" - a far cry from beyond reasonable doubt!

With regard to Magic Millions, the stewards may well have taken into account that Nash Rawiller (No Looking Back) didn't stop riding while Tommy Berry (Driefontein) clearly was inconvenienced and looked decidedly cramped and uncomfortable in the vital final stages. He couldn't offer his mount any substantial encouragement.

The end result, however, is that the decision of the stewards is virtually beyond reproach because bets are settled on their findings. Arguing the case against their protest decisions is as fruitless as complaining about your wife to your mother-in-law.

Former jockey turned racing commentator, Ron Dufficy, reactivated the worthwhile proposal of restricting jockeys' evidence during protest inquiries. Currently the jockeys involved in the protest plus the trainers and owners are eligible to comment during the hearing. Bear in mind Dufficy is an ex-jockey and he considers the evidence of the riders to be superfluous. After all, the ultimate result hinges on the opinions of the stewards and that is based on video replays and their own visions of incidents during every race.

Quite frankly, the elimination of elongated argument from the "combatants" would streamline the protest process and the merit of the end results would not be affected.

So much for my pontificating, let's direct our attention to the punt this weekend.

At Rosehill on Saturday a couple of apprentices may be worth following. In race three, Andrew Stead, with a valuable three kilogram claim, will be on original top weight Cindarockinrella. This three-year-old Tim Martin-trained filly is racing in good form and, with Stead's claim, drops to 56 kilograms and she has the added benefit of a close-in barrier draw. She won at Rosehill over 1200 metres on December 31 and after leading, battled on for third at 1400 metres 12 days later.

The other junior rider, Shaun Guymer, also has a three kilogram allowance which will benefit Parthian from the powerful Peter Snowden stable. Co-incidentally, like Cindarockinrella, Parthian has barrier two. Parthian is coming off consistent form of minor placings over 1400 and 1500 metres. She races close to the lead and will appreciate the good barrier and the handicap weight reduction.