Top Sydney rider Bowman is set to miss the biggest meetings of the year after being found guilty of improper riding in the Caulfield Classic on Saturday, resulting in a 20-meeting suspension. It left him stunned and vowing to clear his name.

It was the first time Bowman had been charged under the rule and his appeal against the stewards' ruling and suspension will be heard on Tuesday.

"I just want a fair hearing on Tuesday," Bowman said. "I'm going to miss the three biggest meetings of the year and I have to fight it on all grounds."

Stewards deemed Bowman on Light Up Manhattan had "placed unnecessary pressure" on Glen Boss on Magicool and forced him to the fence in the back straight of the Classic, which result in Ben Melham being checked on Home Run Hero.

There were similarities between the Bowman incident and the one involving Schofield at Mornington last month, where the junior hoop was given a 32-meeting ban. The key for stewards is the jockey's intent but O'Keeffe worries about how the rules are interpreted.

The connotation of improper riding is more severe than a regular careless-riding charge.

"It is a very subjective judgment and I think what is seen as competitive riding in NSW, might be found to be improper in Victoria," O'Keeffe said. "It makes it hard for jockeys to adjust from one state to another.

"I'm not saying the stewards have got it wrong in the Schofield and Bowman cases, but interpretation is definitely different between our two biggest racing jurisdictions.

"After the Schofield case, jockeys here were well aware of the rule and how it was being policed because there was a lot of debate about it in the riding ranks.

"The trouble is that something that might be all right in Sydney, is not all right here. The rules are the same but the interpretations are different and jockeys need to know that."

Bowman had outstanding hopes in the group 1s at Moonee Valley at the weekend in Terravista in Friday night's Manikato Stakes and Criterion in the Cox Plate. Respective trainers Joe Pride and David Payne have placed riders on hold pending Bowman's appeal.

"I have James McDonald on standby for Criterion but we hoping Hughie will get off and be able to ride," Payne said. "He has been with him the whole prep and it is not ideal to have to be changing riders now."

Criterion appears to be peaking at the right time for the Cox Plate after being runner-up in the Caulfield Stakes at his last appearance and will have a look at Moonee Valley at Breakfast With The Best this week.

"He has always taken time to get to his top and Hughie was very happy last time," Payne said. "It will do him some good to have a look at the Valley on Tuesday and I think we might give James a feel of him then just in case Hughie doesn't get off."

Payne says it is an even Cox Plate without an Australian star and wonders if Coolmore's raider Adelaide could prove too good for the locals.

"Criterion is a nice horse but he is nowhere near the best horse I have had," Payne said. "It is that sort of field and, looking at his form overseas, if Adelaide turns up at the top of his game, he will be the one to beat."

Pride has Hong Kong-based Nash Rawiller on standby for Terravista. Rawiller had also been booked to ride Silent Achiever in the Cox Plate.