Brett Prebble's return to Australian racing is off to a rocky start with the star jockey suspended at Caulfield.

New chief steward Robert Cram issued a 20-meeting ban to Prebble on Saturday after finding him guilty of improper riding aboard Cross Legend in the Listed Jim Moloney Stakes.

Stewards charged Prebble with riding his mount out from behind Mystic Journey near the 800m when he was not entitled to do so.

Stewards said Prebble made contact with John Allen's mount Krone on his outside on a number of occasions resulting in that horse becoming unbalanced.

Prebble pleaded not guilty.

Prebble is still able to ride Hong Kong sprinter Lucky Bubbles in the Sprinters Stakes in Japan on Sunday week before starting the suspension.

He can return on October 19.

After a highly successful stint in Hong Kong spanning 15 years, Prebble returned to Australian racing this season with his first rides back earlier this month.

UK-based James Doyle jetted in for the Caulfield meeting and won the Group One Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes on the Charlie Appleby-trained Jungle Cat.

But Doyle also left with a seven-meeting suspension for careless riding aboard Jungle Cat's stablemate Folkswood in the straight in the MRC Foundation Cup.