Top apprentice Jason Maskiell is negotiating with trainers keen for him to join their stable after he was sacked by trainer Mick Price due to a drinking problem.Maskiell's manager John Nikolic said he had "touched base" with half a dozen trainers but no decision had yet been made as to where the rider goes."The final decision will be made after he speaks with his family in Tasmania and something will be resolved in the next couple of days," Nikolic said.Price told Maskiell to find a new master o

Top apprentice Jason Maskiell is negotiating with trainers keen for him to join their stable after he was sacked by trainer Mick Price due to a drinking problem.

Maskiell's manager John Nikolic said he had "touched base" with half a dozen trainers but no decision had yet been made as to where the rider goes.

"The final decision will be made after he speaks with his family in Tasmania and something will be resolved in the next couple of days," Nikolic said.

Price told Maskiell to find a new master on Monday.

"He (Maskiell) has been mixing with the wrong people and drinking, and I won't tolerate drunks in my stable," Price told the Herald Sun newspaper.

Maskiell, who has had two careless riding suspensions in the last month and hasn't ridden since June 20, has been staying with his grandfather, Tasmanian trainer Ken Hanson.

The 19-year-old returns from his latest suspension at Moonee Valley on Saturday when he has five rides.

Among them are last-start Flemington winner Sunday Rose for the Bart Cummings stable in the Dominant Hcp (1200m), Rockabee Miss in the Become An MVRC Member Hcp (1200m) for trainer David Hayes and True Tales in the Legends After The Last Hcp (1500m) for Tony Vasil.

Maskiell, son of top Tasmanian jockey Stephen Maskiell, joined the Price stable in June last year having ridden 114 winners in his home state.

He quickly made a name for himself riding 52 city winners including 50 in Melbourne this season to win the apprentices' premiership in which he is currently 23 wins ahead of his nearest rival Brent Evans.

He is second in the jockeys' title, 10 behind the leader Luke Nolen.

Maskiell has three times ridden a winning treble at Moonee Valley, the latest on May 29.

Meanwhile, apprentice Adam McCabe, fresh from landing his 50th career winner and his fifth metropolitan success aboard Take All Of Me at Geelong on Wednesday, has four good rides at the Valley.

The 20-year-old, on loan to trainer Mick Kent from Russell Cameron, has spent a lot of time on the sidelines due to injuries and other issues.

He has three rides for Kent - Countcool in the Tattsbet.com Hcp (2040m), Cameo Minx in the Thinkbigstud.com.au Hcp (1500m) and Philda in the Legends After Last Hcp.

His other mount is the Jason Warren-trained Viking Turf Belle, who he won on at the Valley on June 23, in the Wonthaggi Workmen's Club Hcp (1200m).