Trainer John Moloney does not have the team to be a major contender during the spring but is more than happy to pick off minor races during the carnival.

The art Moloney sees is being able to place his horses where they are best suited and over the two-day meeting at The Valley had two runners.

His first, Sunday Prayer, finished third over 1500m on Friday night before Fine Dane came out on Saturday to claim the Strathmore Community Bendigo Bank Handicap.

Ridden by Patrick Moloney, Fine Dane ($4.20) scored by 1-1/2 lengths from the $1.90 favourite Esperance with Makahu Boy ($13) three-quarters-of-a-length away third.

"It's great to get a winner over the carnival," Moloney said.

"We know that wasn't a strong race by ratings, or type, but this horse deserves a nice win.

"He's performed, he's been stakes-placed a couple of times. He raced well in the Apache Cat Classic (at Cranbourne), so he deserves his rating as being a winner on a carnival day."

Moloney won a Listed race with Legionnaire at Flemington earlier in the spring while his previous black type winner came with Dornier in the VRC St Leger at Flemington in 2017.

The trainer will now switch his attention to possible stakes race success with Fine Dane, eyeing off the Listed Doveton Stakes (1000m) at Sandown on November 16.