Punters might have lost faith in High Octane, but co-owner and trainer Gregor Robson hung tough.
The Cambridge trainer knew all he needed to prove his point was a dry track, which he managed to find in Saturday's $80,000 Platinum Homes Tauranga Stakes.
That he had to share
the victory with dead-heater Who Knows was not a disappointment to Robson because like everyone else he thought High Octane had been beaten.
You couldn't blame commentator Aaron White for declaring Who Knows the winner - the whole world saw what he saw.
The only one in dissent was the finish camera.
It showed that while Who Knows put his head up right on the line, High Octane dropped his to draw level at exactly the right time.
"I couldn't believe it," said Robson, and High Octane's rider, Troy Harris, agreed.
Natalie Tanner took the view that Who Knows sharing the win was better than being beaten.
You always like to see a rematch coming out of a dead-heat and that is very likely with the winning pair perhaps clashing in the $77,000 Great Northern Challenge Stakes (1600m) at Ellerslie on December 1.
The group three race is a handicap with set weights and penalties.
Also lining up in that will be Sir Slick, the beaten favourite on Saturday.
After leading, Sir Slick capitulated quickly at the top of the home straight and finished 3.7 lengths from the winners in fifth place.
Part-owner and trainer Graeme Nicholson is inclined to think Sir Slick needs more work and is reasonably confident he can show something closer to his best at Ellerslie.
He is likely to find tougher opposition again because the Ellerslie event looks perfect for Alonzo, Charliehorse and Kristov, the first three home in the 1400m sprint at Tauranga.
Alonzo won stylishly and it was the first run back by Kristov and Charliehorse, both of whom should be greatly improved.
Woodville visitor Thee Old Hussie also fought on well for fourth in what was only her third run this preparation.
Comeback jockey Leith Innes stole the show with five winning rides on the programme.
