Aged geldings seldom win in the city these days, and rarely over 1000 metres, but no one told Le Bonsir, nor would he have listened.

The old fellow has found a new lease of life after what was a shocker at Swan Hill, when he only beat two horses to the line in the Golden Topaz.

His placings out weight his wins, 14 to 9, however, the old fellow has struck form with a vengeance.

He put the writing on the wall after he came home, at the rate of knots, to finish third to Shiraz and Play Master in the Aurie’s Star Handicap at Flemington.

Saturday’s pace suited him; he was well back at all stages of the race, that obviously suits him, he needs to wind up to produce his best.

He has never been over raced and a gap between runs would seem to be the key to him, Saturday’s win in the Carlyon Stakes has taken his stake earnings to $563,000,   he has well and truly paid his way.

The favourite, Gregers, first up since the Goodwood Handicap, when she finished sixth, was never a chance; she raced wide for the entire journey, finishing a disappointing seventh given her first up record that swayed the market

Le Bonsir winning the Carlyon Stakes

Lee Freedman led in his first city winner, of the new season, when Strykum led all the way to win the Quest Moonee Valley Plate.

Her rider, Ben Melham, bounced her out into the vanguard position once the gates opened; from then on Strykum was out on her lonesome, the majority of the opposition lost sight of her after the first 200 metres.

She is paying her way to this stage, four runs and two wins and it was just the bob of the head that denied her being Stakes placed, when she finished fourth in the Group 3 National Stakes at Morphettville, after winning there at her previous start.

There was little form as you would expect, the better three year old fillies were at Caulfield for the Quezette Stakes the previous week.

She will be back at Moonee Valley again in a couple of weeks that is likely to determine which direction she takes, it is in the melting pot at present.

Her sire, Stryker, is chipping away quite nicely, with his oldest progeny three year olds; he has five winners to his credit from 21 starters.

He needs that good one, as every sire needs; he could be a replica of his sire, Fastnet Rock, his progeny have performed better at three, than juveniles.

Stryker led all the way at the Valley

Vezalay showed the benefit of a short break from racing, when leading all the way to win the Beverage Williams Plate at Caulfield.

That was her first city win and in the manner in which she won further wins look to be on the agenda, she was quite impressive.

At her previous start she was thrown in at the deep end in the William Reid Stakes, yet ran quite a respectable race, as she was coming off a provincial Maiden win into a Group 1 race.

She is going to win a handy race or two coming into the spring, and Saturday’s win was only her sixth start in a race and she will benefit from the win.

The success has continued on for the inform combination of Brad Spicer, as a syndicator, Leon Corstens trainer, and Damian Oliver.

Her work on the track has been satisfactory, there was some concern she may have been a bit on the soft side, however, punters were oblivious to that, they sent her out a solid favourite.

Leon Corstens would have preferred to see her settle a little better, but that was not the case, she began well and there was no point in pulling her about.

On returning to scale in the colours, lime green, black spots, striped sleeves, orange cap, previously carried by the Group 1 winning mare, Commanding Jewel.

Vezalay under Damian Oliver

Petits Filous kept her winning streak intact, with another dazzling performance in winning the Group 3 Quezette Stakes at Caulfield.

She is not only winning, it is the manner in which she is winning, her time was one point five seconds better than the colts and geldings recorded in the Vain Stakes, over the same distance.

That is a replica of her three wins; she has run faster time over the same distance on the corresponding programs.

It was an exciting win on the back of Bashboy’s Grand National Steeplechase success at Ballarat for Ciaron Maher.

Petits Filous ridden by Damian Oliver

Ciaron Maher, trainer of the boom filly, while excited with her brilliant win, is keeping his feet on the ground; he is playing it cool for the present.

There will be no quick decisions regarding her next start, he will let the dust settle and be guided by the advice of Damien Oliver, whether the filly is kept for sprint distances.

Maher showed some concern when the filly bounced out of the gates so quickly, however, she soon set her own pace and was travelling well within herself.

Adelaide filly, Miss Gunpowder, who had won at her two starts, gave her supporters a good sight, but was no match for the winner, she is capable of winning a race here at the right distance, and if Petits Filous stays at home in the stable.

Ciaron Maher - A deserving pat for a brilliant filly

Those that attend Rosehill races on Saturday will they spare a thought for the horse the race is named after, that is most unlikely.

San Domenico was foaled in the last year of the war 1945; he had just the three starts as a two year old, beginning in June, winning all three.

As a three year old he won the Challenge Stakes at Randwick, and the Oakleigh Plate, a Futurity Stakes and George Main Stakes, were among his 25 wins.

Being a gelding he had the inside raced out of him, his last two wins were at Nyngan, the winner’s cheque being $50, 10 days later he won at Bourke, the winning cheque there was $100, that was his last start.

How a horse in his youth could capture the imagination of racegoers, yet disgraced with age, is very sad.