On heavy footing, Civics Rock has had nine starts for four wins and two placings and on slow it's six times to the races for three wins and two places.
"He was the perfect wet tracker and now he wins this race on a good track," said Manning in amazement.
Until the result was confirmed after a lengthy delay, the Cambridge trainer refused to accept congratulations even from those certain Civics Rock had won.
Remarkably, Civics Rock, at $28.50, carried clear 59kg topweight and came out of a wide gate at the 1200m start.
Albany Reunion looked to strike a heel after 175m, recovered to be mid-field, but received something of a rocky run.
He was back beyond mid-field when the field turned into the home straight.
He and Civics Rocks came through the pack together and almost nothing separated them for the final 220m.
What separated them on the line was Statham. He raced wide outside the pack, which is generally counter-productive over 1200m at Ellerslie, but the track was racing best yesterday away from the inside rail.
If you were amazed Living The Dream came up a pronounced favourite yesterday you were not alone.
Trainer Graham Richardson expressed his surprise after his 5-year-old mare Living The Dream impressively won the Herald On Sunday R75 yesterday.
"She was on the ballot and as soon as she made the field she immediately came up as favourite."
The barrier draw helped win the race.
From close in, Living The Dream sat three deep on the rail and finished powerfully through the pack in the closing 300m to win nicely.
Richardson is keen to get the mare's ratings up.
"I would like to see her get some black type, although I believe she's a year away from her best."
