A relieved David Vandyke will now look to Melbourne with up-and-coming import Prince Cheri after he scored a narrow win in a drama-packed end to Golden Rose day.

Vandyke said pre-race that Prince Cheri needed to win the Group Three Kingston Town Stakes (2000m) to prove he warranted a trip to Melbourne for a possible tilt at the Caulfield Cup.

The five-year-old delivered and while his neck victory over Honorius was slight, Vandyke saw enough positives to press on with his southern plans.

"It was a good, grinding win. A real stayer's performance," Vandyke said.

"He was three-wide from the 600 (metres) but he just kept going.

"I will see how he pulls up but we will probably head to Melbourne."

Vandyke is weighing up his immediate options in Victoria which include the JRA Cup at Moonee Valley and the Bart Cummings at Flemington.

The victory was the French import's third from four starts in Australia and winning jockey Jay Ford came away from the race convinced Prince Cheri has more to offer.

"The last 50 metres he showed his class and he started to pull right away," Ford said.

The race was marred by an incident shortly after the start in which Glyn Schofield was dislodged from Lunayir after he dipped and went down on his nose.

Brenton Avdulla aboard Chasse also received a bump and was lucky to stay in the saddle before pulling his mount out of the race.

"He basically tripped over him (Lunayir) and when I looked up I was 100 metres behind them," Avdulla said.

Schofield suffered a laceration to an ear and bruising to his ribs.

His helmet was unmarked but it had to be confiscated by stewards under the rules because it had been involved in a fall.

"They're expensive you know," Schofield said to chief steward Ray Murrihy.

"Not as expensive as heads," Murrihy retorted.