First Seal has recovered from the foot issue that ruled her out of the spring carnival and is back in work at Randwick.

The four-year-old returned to John Thompson's stable a week ago and the trainer says there is no sign of the problem which led to her absence from the major races.

"She looks great, nice and strong, sound," Thompson said.

"Her foot is normal again. I'm very, very happy."

First Seal was scratched from the Warwick Stakes and Tramway Stakes due to a foot abscess.

Subsequent MRI scans revealed a deeper problem with tissue forming at the back of her hoof, causing the recurring abscesses and the four-year-old underwent surgery for the complaint.

The dominant three-year-old filly of her generation over sprint and middle distances, First Seal twice beat Winx in the 2014 Tea Rose and Flight Stakes.

Winx emerged as Australian racing's latest star during the Sydney and Melbourne spring carnivals this season when she won the Epsom Handicap and Cox Plate.

Thompson admits he was buoyed by the performances of Winx, although he concedes she is a different horse from the one First Seal had the measure of at three.

"No doubt the form around our horse is good. I do think Winx went to a higher level through that preparation and maybe the end of her previous preparation too," he said.

"But it will be good to get my horse back in full health because I think she's right up there with the best of them."

Thompson said First Seal was being prepared for a February return ahead of an autumn carnival campaign aimed at the Group One Coolmore Classic and Doncaster Mile.