Imported English stayer Refectory had to survive a protest before scoring his first Australian win at Doomben on Wednesday.

Refectory ($2.40) held on to beat Dubai Gee Eye ($6.50) by 1-1/4 lengths in the Drumbeats @ Lyndhurst Plate (2140m) after a daring front-running ride from Chris Munce.

However, Cyril Small on Dubai Gee Eye fired in a protest alleging interference on the home turn.

Small said Refectory had been rolling away from the fence but when he went to go inside him on the home turn he had rolled back and taken his running.

"He cost me two and a quarter lengths but more importantly he stopped my momentum. When I got going again I was taking ground off Refectory," Small said.

Munce claimed Small was "clutching at straws" and Refectory was always going to win the race.

Stewards dismissed the protest after finding they couldn't be satisfied any interference had cost Dubai Gee Eye the winning margin.

Refectory had four starts in England, winning at Haydock over 2400m and being placed at Newmarket and Ascot.

After running third in the Listed Noel Murless Stakes at Ascot, Refectory was sold to a syndicate including trainers Bevan Laming and his son Richard.

"Refectory has been running on heavy tracks at the Sunshine Coast where he has had no luck. He is a young stayer who is still learning and today was only his fourth race start," Bevan Laming said.

Meanwhile, trainer Barry Lockwood is looking at stepping Manariki ($10) up in distance after he got within 0.12 seconds of the class record in winning the Sky Racing Hcp (1650m).

"He is getting as the distances get longer," Lockwood said.