A day after celebrating his 50th birthday, Godolphin's Darren Beadman showed he had lost none of his quick wit during a good-humoured stewards' room exchange with Edward Cummings.

Cummings, representing his father Anthony, fired in a protest on behalf of stable runner Hieroglyphics who was beaten a nose by Godolphin mare Progressive in the TAB Rewards Handicap at Canterbury on Wednesday.

As Beadman entered the stewards' room to represent the Godolphin camp, Cummings cheekily asked why head trainer John O'Shea wasn't there "to put me in my place".

"He sent me instead," Beadman replied.

"I'll do a better job of it."

Both men switched into serious mode to argue cases for their respective horses.

Cummings felt a bump on the finish line cost Hieroglyphics victory while Beadman said both horses contributed to the contact and Progressive won fair and square.

Stewards agreed with Beadman and the objection was dismissed.

Cummings had been dismissed minutes before the verdict to saddle up a horse in the next race, much to Beadman's disappointment.

"I was hoping he'd stay. I was going to hand him my glasses," Beadman quipped.