A week after superstar mare Atlantic Jewel made a winning return to the track, trainer Mark Kavanagh will produce another Group One winner on the comeback trail in Saturday's Makybe Diva Stakes.

December Draw makes his return in the Group One 1600m feature at Flemington having not started since last year's Mackinnon Stakes.

Jockey Michael Rodd said a recent jump-out showed him enough to suggest the eight-year-old still had the desire to race.

Kavanagh has applied blinkers to December Draw for the first time in the Makybe Diva and Rodd said the gelding wore them in a recent jump-out.

"It was only over half a mile so what I was looking for was that his competitive edge was still there," Rodd said.

"He's had his few issues and he's getting a bit older, but he definitely wanted to compete and he wanted to try to win the trial and do his best.

"We'll know more after Saturday, but he should hit the front somewhere along the line."

The Makybe Diva Stakes is set to feature eight Group One winners and a host of horses heading to the spring majors.

But December Draw hasn't been nominated for the Caulfield Cup, Cox Plate or the Melbourne Cup this time around.

The 2011 Turnbull Stakes winner was injured in the Caulfield Cup two years ago when he finished last as favourite. He beat just one runner home in the 2400m feature last year when he failed to stay.

Rodd was expecting Atlantic Jewel, the best horse he's ridden, to win last week in her first start for 16 months but his expectations aren't as high going into this Group One with December Draw.

"It's going to be a big training effort from Kav again if he can pull this one off," Rodd said.

"He (December Draw) has obviously had his fair share of time off.

"He's had a couple of trials so he's definitely there to win. Whether his fitness is there is another question.

"He's not completely screwed down, but his racing pattern is that he goes forward and rolls along up on the speed - that's going to afford him a good run from that barrier - and they all have to try to get past him."

Melbourne Cup favourite Puissance De Lune is the clear-cut favourite at $1.95 to notch a Group One win at his first attempt while Sea Moon is at $5.50 for his Australian debut.

December Draw is on the fourth line of betting at $9.50 while last year's runner-up Manighar is at $7.50.