A drop in grade has helped Solsay return to the winner's circle at Moonee Valley to set up another tilt at Listed company.

Solsay finished fourth in the Listed Christmas Stakes and the Group Three Standish Handicap in his previous two starts before dropping back to a restricted 1200m race on Friday with apprentice Jackie Beriman aboard.

The six-year-old, who started $2.90 favourite chased down Tackleberry in the straight to score by half a length with King Buddy 2-1/4-lengths away third.

Trainer Mick Kent said Solsay could have potentially contested the Group Two Australia Stakes on Friday night but would have paid the penalty in the ratings had he finished in a place.

Kent is keen to step Solsay up to 1400m at his next start and pinpointed the Listed Thomas Lyons Stakes in Tasmania on February 9 as a potential target.

"I'm very keen to get him to seven furlongs and put him on speed," Kent said.

"I think that's when he'll be really good.

"There's the Thomas Lyons in Tassie. I reckon that would be a good race for him. But there's heaps of races for him."