Andrew Noblet will be trying to snap a three-month losing streak when Sistine Demon contests a sprint race at Flemington on Saturday.
The Caulfield-based trainer hasn't tasted success since By The Grace took out the Listed Balaklava Cup in South Australia in September.
That win coincided with a two-state double after Sistine Spirit, a half-sister to Sistine Demon, was successful at Sandown.
Noblet had a lean spring although Silent Sedition and Super Cash represented the stable well at the Caulfield and Moonee Valley feature meetings.
He didn't have a runner during Melbourne Cup week while November was quiet and early December has exactly been busy either.
But Noblet is expecting things to heat up.
"There's a lot of unraced stuff there," Noblet said.
"We're just in a holding pattern at the moment."
Noblet last year relied on Sistine Demon contesting some of the lower-end spring sprint races.
This year the gelding was missing after an autumn campaign meant the gelding needed extra time in the paddock.
Noblet said he couldn't pinpoint just where Sistine Demon was sore, but knew he wasn't right.
"He was over-racing and wasn't happy," Noblet said.
"We gave him a nice long spell and seems to be back to his normal self.
"Hopefully he can repeat the dose this weekend and then we can map out a definite plan with him."
Sistine Demon had his first run in six months when a closing third behind Grane at Moonee Valley on November 28.
Noblet said the likely next assignment for Sistine Demon was either the Christmas Stakes at Caulfield on December 26 or the Standish Handicap at Flemington on New Year's Day before a step up in distance.
Steven Arnold has been booked for the ride on Saturday.