Blake Shinn has defended his ride on Thud at Rosehill under intense questioning from stewards.

The Peter and Paul Snowden-trained mare finished fourth in Saturday's Schweppes Handicap (1200m) with Racing NSW chief steward Marc Van Gestel saying the panel had concerns over Shinn's ride on the home turn and again at the 200 metres.

"There are two areas of concern," Van Gestel said.

"The decision not to go to the outside of Bonete on the home turn and the option taken, not to take the run between Bonete and Miss Tenpins near the 200 metre mark."

Paul Snowden told stewards he had instructed the jockey to have Thud where she was happy considering she was first-up over a distance longer than her best.

"I told Blake she was vulnerable at the distance," he said, adding there were no suitable races over shorter trips.

Shinn said he didn't think it would have been the right decision to let Thud slide forward onto the back of Miss Tenpins at the top of the straight.

"That's not the way to ride my horse," he said.

Shinn conceded there was a neat run in the straight but it closed.

Stewards adjourned the inquiry to check betting records and review videos of Thud's previous runs.