Blake Shinn was the subject of an unusual protest at Canterbury on Wednesday for accidentally hitting rival Josh Parr's mount across the nose with his whip.Shinn won theraces.com.au Handicap (1550m) on Isola but Parr fired in an objection saying runner-up Merge had been hampered by being struck with Shinn's whip in the tight finish."She's been struck across the snout four times and on each occasion her head has come back at me," Parr said."I think it's cost her half a length."Isola prevailed by

Blake Shinn was the subject of an unusual protest at Canterbury on Wednesday for accidentally hitting rival Josh Parr's mount across the nose with his whip.

Shinn won theraces.com.au Handicap (1550m) on Isola but Parr fired in an objection saying runner-up Merge had been hampered by being struck with Shinn's whip in the tight finish.

"She's been struck across the snout four times and on each occasion her head has come back at me," Parr said.

"I think it's cost her half a length."

Isola prevailed by a neck and retained the race in the stewards' room after it was deemed Merge had not made up any ground after the incident.

Trainer Guy Walter said Isola would now head to Melbourne.

"There is a nice race at Ballarat over 1600 metres in two weeks or a 1700-metre race at Flemington during Cup week that would suit," Walter said.

"She is a promising mare who will appreciate longer distances."

Isola carries the Tait family's famous red and white colours worn to glory by such horses as Baguette, Tie The Knot and Spinning Hill.

Sandy Tait was on hand for the victory by the four-year-old mare whose half-brother Red River made a winning debut at Goulburn on Tuesday.

Both are out of La Zabaglione, a daughter of Whisked, the dam of 13-time Group One winner Tie The Knot.

"La Zabaglione has had three foals and they have all won their first starts at Goulburn," Tait said.

"It's lovely to see these two win in two days."

La Zabaglione's other foal to race is city winner Sandberg who is currently spelling.

The news wasn't so good for Tie The Knot's half-brother Hood who finished fourth over 1500m to the John O'Shea-trained Glintz in the TJ's Champagne Bar Hcp (1550m).

He was ridden closer in an attempt to get him back in the winners' stall but Walter admitted he was a puzzle.

"We are scratching our heads a bit with him," he said.

Hood has won two of his nine starts, his first coincidentally coming on debut at Goulburn.

The day was a memorable one for jockey Mitchell Bell who claimed his first city winner for some months on Military Secret for former jockey, trainer Mark de Montfort.

A former top apprentice, Bell has struggled with weight but says he has a new enthusiasm for racing.

"I ride work for Mark six mornings a week and I owe him a lot," he said.

"Hopefully the hard work will pay off and I get more opportunities."