After finishing a head behind Expensive Ego, Grimson and reisman Josh Gallagher lodged a protest which stewards upheld to win Australasia's showpiece.

After crossing from barrier seven, Boncel Benjamin handed away his early advantage to Expensive Ego.

However as the field turned for home in the 3009-metre finale, Gallagher spied an inside run but David Moran, fresh off a double at Wagga on Friday, was judged to caused enough interference when coming back down the track.

Stewards deemed there was enough room for Boncel Benjamin, who was a $51 chance, to take the run and altered the placings.

Watching on trackside, Grimson thought his charge had narrowly missed out in the $500,000 feature but his confidence grew as soon as he watched the replay.

"Once I went into the room and watched the replay, I was confident we could win the race in the stewards' room," Grimson said.

"We've been having a great run in the past couple of years and I only hope that people can keep sending us good horses like this bloke.

"This horse [Boncel Benjamin] has terrific gate speed and that's his greatest asset.

"That gate speed was probably what won him this race."

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Grimson cut his teeth in the Riverina before electing to make the move to Sydney.

The 28-year-old had a standout season with Saturday's success the icing on the top.

Grimson returns to the region on Tuesday with Sweet Apple drawn one in the second heat of the MIA Breeders Plate.

The two-year-old has won both his two races since making the move to join Grimson in Australia.

Blake Jones will drive the son of Sweet Lou who is eyeing off four wins on the trot.

Meanwhile former Temora horseman Rickie Alchin finished fourth with Tough Monarch in the Inter Dominion Trotting Championships. Cameron Hart's two chances finished sixth (Majestic Cruiser) and seventh (Timothy Red).