Stewards ruled against Larry Cassidy on two counts after his eventful ride aboard So Delicious at Eagle Farm on Wednesday.

Heavily backed from $5 into $3.10, So Delicious missed the start by several lengths then encountered a checkered passage in the straight before finishing fifth to Buakaw in the Sequalo @ Lyndhurst Maiden Plate (1500m).

Cassidy, with the support of trainer Kelly Schweida, applied to have So Delicious declared a non-runner on the grounds the filly was denied a fair start.

He later lodged an unsuccessful protest against third placegetter Eyeforit for interference at the 300 metre mark.

Cassidy told stewards a barrier attendant was holding the head of So Delicious when the gates opened, causing the filly to miss the jump.

"The attendant was trying to do the right thing but in the meantime the gates have opened and she's missed it by several lengths," Cassidy told stewards.

"I don't believe I've been afforded a fair start."

Schweida agreed with Cassidy's testimony and said So Delicious was prevented from jumping on terms with the rest of the field.

"I'm a great supporter of barrier staff but when the gates open they must let go," Schweida said.

"A horse can't jump if they've got hold of their head."

Acting chief steward Allan Reardon said it was the barrier antics of So Delicious which caused her to miss the start, clearing the barrier attendant of any blame and declaring the filly a runner.

"The attendant was there to help and So Delicious's issues have caused her to miss the start," Reardon said.

During the protest hearing, Cassidy claimed he had established a run to the inside of Eyeforit, ridden by Andrew Spinks, before that gelding bumped So Delicious heavily and closed the gap.

"Had I been able to maintain my running I would've been the third horse home," Cassidy said.

Spinks said he had maintained a straight course aboard Eyeforit.

In dismissing the protest, Reardon said Cassidy's abrupt shift had contributed significantly to the degree of interference suffered by So Delicious.

"You've forced the issue and we believe it was Andrew Spinks's run and not yours," Reardon told Cassidy.

It wasn't all gloom and doom for the jockey who later won the Winning Edge Presentations Maiden Handicap (1200m) aboard Gallinari while Schweida was successful in the Sky Racing Handicap (1000m) with Lennie's Choice.