David Hayes' comments that vets who scratched Changingoftheguard from the Melbourne Cup were knuckleheads has cost the trainer $2000.

An irate Hayes fronted media outlets on cup morning after Racing Victoria veterinary surgeons ruled the horse was lame and could not compete in the race.

Hayes maintained there was nothing wrong with the four-year-old and he should have been allowed to run.

He said the horse did have a well-publicised foot abscess but had got over the issue more than a week before the cup.

Stewards did not take kindly to the outburst and charged Hayes with insulting behaviour towards officials.

"This probably went right around the world," chief steward Terry Bailey said. "You're one of our leading men and it won't be tolerated."

Hayes pleaded guilty and said he would wear the fine but hoped it would highlight the process of vet inspections.

Cup-winning jockey Corey Brown was fined $500 for unnecessary use of the whip on Shocking at the finish of the race.

Brown said he merely flicked his wrist in a celebratory gesture and did not believe there was enough evidence the whip made contact with the horse.