Bryan Guy has taken an unorthodox approach with Noisy Ocean's lead-up to the Grafton Cup but it is one that has worked for the gelding in the past.

After his unlucky second to Brave Ali in the Ipswich Cup (2100m) on June 14, Guy said he would target the 2350 metres of next week's Grafton Cup.

Instead of giving him a more traditional path via the Caloundra Cup (2400m), Guy elected to drop Noisy Ocean back in distance on Saturday to 1400 metres in a benchmark race at the Gold Coast.

Noisy Ocean led and held on for a narrow win.

Guy said Noisy Ocean was an unusual horse and he needed a run to keep him up to the mark.

"But we didn't want to knock him around on a wet track over 2400 metres in the Caloundra Cup. He isn't the type of horse who would have responded to that," Guy said.

"If you look at his form you will see we have tried this before with him for great success."

Guy was talking about Noisy Ocean's preparation to win the 2013 Magic Million Stayers Cup (1800m). At his previous start Noisy Ocean had come back in distance to run in a 1300m race as his lead-up.

Guy has no doubt Noisy Ocean will run out a strong staying trip.

"He has won at 2030 metres and ran second to smart stayer Hi Son in a 2100 metre race at Doomben last preparation," he said.

"I have no doubt he should have won that race."

Noisy Ocean is by noted sprinter Shovhog but gets his stamina from his dam Hepburn Rose who is by super sire of stayers Sir Tristram.

The gelding has won eight races and $548,000 prize money which is a great return on his $15,000 purchase price.