Runner-up at Flemington at his past two starts, the Tony McEvoy-trained Manuel repaid the faith of punters with a hard-fought win in Sunday's $150,000 Listed Kilmore Cup (1600m).
From an outside barrier, Luke Currie gave the favourite a positive ride but was made to do some work before tacking up the front-running role.
The 5yo son of Commands toughed it out valiantly in the straight to defeat the Chris Waller-trained Torgersen (Pins) by one and a quarter lengths with Fastnet Tempest (Fastnet Rock) a neck back in third.
Stable representative Michael Shepherdson believes a gelding operation has been the making of Manuel.
"His form has been really consistent since being gelded, he's always threatened to win a nice race and today he has done it," Shepherdson said.
"It wasn't easy for him, he had to work hard for the first half of the race.
"There are some nice races for him in the autumn, he probably really needs to have a rest but he is in such good form I'm not sure what Tony (McEvoy) has in mind for him.
A half-brother to Group III GCTC Ken Russell Memorial Classic winner Taking Aim (Choisir) and the Group III-placed Witherspoon (Exceed And Excel), Manuel advances his record to 7 wins, 5 seconds and 2 thirds from 21 starts with earnings of $446,050.
A $240,000 purchase by his trainer out of the Segenhoe Stud draft at the 2015 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale, Manual (pictured as a yearling) is the first foal of the stakes-winning Hussonet (USA) mare Girl Hussler who had an Exceed And Excel colt that was knocked down to George Moore Bloodstock for $800,000 at this year's Easter Yearling Sale.
Girl Hussler obviously throws very attractive foals as her four yearlings sold have averaged $515,000. With three stakes horses from her first three foals there is plenty to look forward to with a yearling Fastnet Rock filly and a Snitzel colt foal to come.
From the penultimate crop of Commands, Manuel becomes the 78th stakes winner for the deceased son of Danehill.
