Miss Mossman and Darryl Bradley employed daring tactics and were five lengths clear across the top before Pump Up The Volume made his move.
The Ralph Manning-trained six-year-old finished resolutely for the fifth win of his 35 start career.
"He's a tough old boy," Johnson said. "I thought he might have wanted a bit more rain to loosen the track, but he got through it well."
Pump Up The Volume's victory completed a double for Manning, who produced Retrospect to win at the New Plymouth meeting.
Miss Mossman made a bold play for consecutive wins but she was running on empty in the closing 150 metres and second was her reward.
Decorah was also courageous under her topweight of 59kg to grind away for fourth ahead of Flying Orca with the field well strung out at the post.
Two races later race mare Fascination Street's quest for a black type victory ended successfully.
She took the widest berth in the Listed Windsor Park Stud Rotorua Stakes and the long way home proved to be right path when she lowered the colours of the group one winner Platinum Witness.
"She really deserved today's win, she's been so consistent all season," said Andrew Scott, who trains the four-year-old with Lance O'Sullivan.
Yet to finish out of the money in her career, Fascination Street was placed at two in the Listed Ryder Stakes and she also gained stakes credits at three in the group two Hawke's Bay Guineas and the group three Gold Trail Stakes when prepared by John Sargent.
She was transferred to O'Sullivan and Scott when Sargent relocated to Sydney and in eight starts for Wexford Stables she has collected three wins and five further minors.
Fascination Street and Platinum Witness had the finish to themselves with The Filly a distant third ahead of Marotiri Miss.
— NZ Racing Desk
