Astute trainer John Sadler never thought he'd see another sprinter as good as the Vain.

But at Moonee Valley on Friday night he'll send out a horse to take on the sprinter Sadler now rates as the best he's ever seen.

Sadler has Linton resuming in the Group One William Reid Stakes (1200m) but isn't expecting the gelding to trouble Black Caviar's unbeaten record.

The Group One race under lights is likely to be the final chance for Melbourne race fans to see Black Caviar race in her home state as she chases her 24th consecutive win.

Sadler can't see anything spoiling the party.

"She's the best I've ever seen," Sadler said.

"Makybe Diva is the best stayer I've ever seen and Vain was the best sprinter I'd ever seen up until Black Caviar.

"It's just good to have something that runs against her. I don't know how I'd feel if I ever beat her - but that won't happen."

Vain raced in the late 1960s, starting 14 times and winning on 12 occasions including the 1969 Golden Slipper.

Linton hasn't raced since the Cox Plate in the spring and will probably find the weight-for-age contest too short on Friday.

But the feature sprint is an important stepping stone for the grey galloper who is being aimed at the Group One Doncaster Mile (1600m) second-up next month before a likely trip to Singapore for the Singapore Airlines International Cup (2000m) in May.

"I'm really pleased with him. He's in good form," Sadler said.

"I hope he's competitive on Friday night from the point of view that he's running on well in the race.

"But of course, she (Black Caviar) goes there and barring accident she just streets them again."

Sadler believes the race is the right lead-in to the Doncaster for Linton.

He also said the Singapore event was a definite option but the gelding would need to be going well.

Lady Melksham, who resumed with a win at Moonee Valley on Friday night, is nominated for the KrisFlyer International Sprint in Singapore but that depends on how she performs in her main target - the Group One Sportingbet Classic in Adelaide.

"That's her grand final," Sadler said of the Sportingbet Classic.

"If she was able to win that and was still going well then she could head over there (to Singapore) with Linton," he said.

Acceptances for the William Reid Stakes will be taken on Monday and Moonee Valley is expected to attract a Cox Plate-like crowd for the occasion.