Tried And Tired will not defend the Christmas Stakes with another summer sprint race in Melbourne his immediate target.

The six-year-old won the Listed Christmas Stakes (1200m) on Boxing Day last year and was one of three nominations from the Leon and Troy Corstens stable for Saturday's edition at Caulfield along with General Groove and Del Prado.

But Troy Corstens said Tried And Tired, who ran third first-up in a Listed 1000m sprint at Sandown, would be saved for the Group Three Standish Handicap (1200m) at Flemington on January 1 with the stable pinning its hopes on General Groove in the Christmas Stakes.

"Tried And Tired's run first-up was full of merit and he had a really good blow after that so he'll take good fitness improvement from it," Corstens said.

"Second-up he should go really well and his work this morning was outstanding. I'm very happy with Tried And Tired and chose to bypass the Christmas Stakes and run in the Standish."

Stephen Baster is booked to ride General Groove in the Christmas Stakes while Del Prado will wait for a benchmark 1400m race on New Year's Day.

General Groove pleased Corstens with his first-up fourth at Moonee Valley over 1200m on November 28 and the trainer believes the six-year-old can make his presence felt on Saturday as he chases his first win in more than a year.

"His run was really good first-up and he's come on since then," Corstens said.

"He had a light trial last week and I'm looking forward to him going into Saturday's event.

"I think he's always been a horse with a lot of talent and he just had a bit of a bad preparation last time.

"We tipped him out and gave him the time and he's back and we're very happy with the way he's coming along."

The Christmas Stakes is one of two Listed races on the Caulfield program, the other being the Lord Stakes (1700m).