Four-year-old Charm Spirit gelding Sansom (NZ) won fresh up at Moonee Valley on Friday night over 1200m in the hands of jockey Ben Allen for trainer Phillip Stokes.

Sansom sat outside the leader and was tough to the line.

“He is so reliable, and he never runs a bad race,” Stokes said of the seven-time winner.

“There is improvement to come, too. He was a bit fresh today.

“I think we can stretch him out to 1400 metres now and we’ll keep placing him in the right races. He’ll win his share.”

Talented rider Ben Allen rode at the Benalla day meeting and made a dash to Moonee Valley to ride the gelding on whom he has a great record.

“It’s tough especially with COVID as riders are staying put and not going on holidays,”Allen said.

“I’m trying to work as hard as I can and a big thanks to Phillip Stokes and the connections of this horse. I haven’t ridden him for a few starts but it’s good to get back on him and I think that’s my sixth win on him.

“He’s a tough horse. Speaking to Phil, it was our plan to break clean and let the race sort out from there. He jumped a couple lengths quick but they kicked up quite quickly but I was happy to let the race fall out the way it did and it ended up working out all right.” Bred by Qatar Bloodstock, who own Charm Spirit who resides at Windsor Park Stud, Sansom is out of the Fastnet Rock mare Bryony, a sibling to Group One winners Triple Honor and Heroic Valour.