Sistine Demon has been building to peak fitness and is on target to snap a year-long absence from the winner's circle in the Anniversary Vase.

The Listed 1400m race at Caulfield on Saturday will be run one day short of a year since the gelding's last win, and trainer Andrew Noblet believes the five-year-old is ready to give the race a shake.

Sistine Demon won seven races last season, highlighted by a six-length win in the Group Three Victoria Handicap on April 19 last year.

He was unplaced in three spring starts but showed he was close to another win when he went close to making it back-to-back Victoria Handicap wins last Saturday week.

After leading and kicking away in the straight, Sistine Demon was collared late to finish third, beaten a short neck and a nose by Watermans Bay and The Peak at the third run of his campaign.

"I couldn't be happier with him. He pulled up really well out of his last run and has subsequently worked well," Noblet said.

"He goes into Saturday a genuine chance again in a pretty fair race."

Sistine Demon is among 34 nominations with Bel Sprinter topweight on 60kg.

In-form Under The Louvre has 59kg along with Amorino while Sistine Demon, to be ridden by apprentice Patrick Moloney, has 56.5kg.

Noblet has been satisfied with all three of Sistine Demon's autumn runs but believes his on-speed style means it takes him a few runs to hit his peak.

While Noblet believes Sistine Demon can return to the winner's list on Saturday, he acknowledges the gelding will have to bring his best.

"He's got to be on the ball," he said.

"Robert Smerdon's horse (Under The Louvre) ran really well the other day at Mornington. It's not going to be a walk in the park that's for sure."

Under The Louvre was second in the Oakleigh Plate first-up and then scored an arrogant win in the Hareeba Stakes at Mornington, storming down the outside to win by 1-3/4 lengths.

Smerdon has next month's Group One Goodwood in Adelaide as Under The Louvre's target while Noblet is also considering taking Sistine Demon to South Australia for the Group Three R A Lee Stakes (1600m) on May 16.