A recent barrier trial win by Flying Snitzel has boosted Gerald Ryan's confidence the mare can recapture the form that gave her a career-high victory over Norzita in the autumn.

Flying Snitzel begins her four-year-old season in Saturday's Sheraco Stakes (1200m) which boasts a quality field of mares headed by triple Group One winner Appearance.

Under the set weights and penalties of the Sheraco, the Guy Walter-trained Appearance gets into the race on 59.5kg, just 1.5kg more than Flying Snitzel whose biggest win so far is the Kewney Stakes at Flemington where she beat the now sidelined Norzita.

"It's a hard race to start off in," Ryan said.

"But none of them are easy at this time of year. She's got to start somewhere and this is a good kick-off.

"She's very bright and well in herself."

Flying Snitzel is raced by Triple Crown Syndications who celebrated a big win by the Ryan-trained Charlie Boy in the Danehill Stakes at Flemington on Saturday.

The plan is for Flying Snitzel to go back to Melbourne after the Sheraco to run in the Blazer Stakes and the Mannerism before a decision is made whether she steps up to the Group One Myer Classic.

The mares' race over 1600m at Flemington is the aim for Appearance who won the race last year and went on to claim Sydney's two autumn Group Ones for her sex - the Coolmore Classic and the Queen Of The Turf.

Appearance missed her scheduled return in the Show County Quality at Warwick Farm on August 24 when she had a recurrence of a tying up problem.

"She had a soft barrier trial last week and she's fine," Walter said.

When it comes to the progeny of Snitzel, his former trainer Ryan seems to have more success than most and Windswept will represent his sire and Arrowfield Stud when he races in a benchmark 80 over 1400m at the Rosehill meeting.

The four-year-old confirmed his potential on August 21 when he won over 1300m at Warwick Farm at his third start back from a year-long recuperation from a broken pelvis.

The best of the Snitzels in Ryan's stable, multiple Group winner Snitzerland, is nearing her return and will be ridden by Dwayne Dunn in a Melbourne sprint campaign.