Rising eight years old and still evergreen, Let’s Galahvant avenged defeat from two years earlier when taking the Listed $125,000 Bunbury Volkswagen South West Cup (2213m) on Sunday afternoon.

Taken back to last by Tash Faithfull, the Galah gelding sliced his way through the pack from the 600m to only be a length off the lead as they straightened.

Given the affected Soft7 surface, the competitive pack abandoned the rail, and Faithfull cut the $12 shot back nearest the fence to conquer an army of Peters Investment runners with Diamond Scene ($4.20), Opportunistic ($4.40) and First Encounter ($11) filling the next three placings but two lengths or more astern.

The 52-start veteran faced a career crossroads when injured after the 2025 Perth Cup but hit back with his first victory in more than two years.

“He’s been outstanding throughout his career. He’s maintained it for such a long time,” co-trainer Ben Pearce said.

“Coming back from an injury after the Perth Cup, he’s done a fantastic job.”

The versatile customer had flagged a return to form a fortnight earlier when finishing second and only a length and a half behind Western Empire in the Strickland Stakes (2000m).

“My exact words on Tuesday when I got off him, I said, ‘this horse has gone to another level, I can’t believe it!’” Pearce said.

“I think he’s just been consistent. For the last three years, he’s popped up and every prep, he’s ticked off a stakes race.

“He’s a horse that you would say is a once-in-a-lifetime horse that comes along and can just consistently earn every single prep.

“We were stoked last start to click over the million-dollar mark with him and to get the win today is outstanding.

“It was a great ride from Tash, too. She managed to gather that ground before straightening and just tracked up underneath them and put him in the right spot.”

Pearce said connections now faced a dilemma whether to aim at Kalgoorilie’s Hannans Handicap (1400m) in early October or once more tilt at Group 1 glory in Ascot’s Railway (1600m) and Northerly Stakes (1800m) slightly later in the year.

Faithfull said the victory meant a lot and was the key to fostering her profitable relationship with Ben and brother Dan, who had the horse in rude health for the weekend’s assignment.

“He was really up and about today. He was wanting to run amok in the barriers a bit like he was a young horse, but I think he was just feeling really well,” Faithfull said.

“Credit to the Pearce team because he feels a million dollars and felt as sound as he ever has and is racing as good as ever.

“He jumped well and travelled beautifully throughout. He really relished that soft ground and travelled so sweetly for me.

“I had to make a decision whether to fan out or cut through. I thought if I start fanning, I’m probably going to end up right out wide.

“I walked the track this morning and I thought right out wide was too soft and the middle was the sweet spot, so I thought I’d take my chances and cut through and it worked out.”