The script went according to plan for Peter Moody when 2009 Blue Diamond winner Reward For Effort made a winning a return to racing at Caulfield on Saturday.

The robust three-year-old defeated older horses when claiming the Listed $100,000 Sir John Monash Stakes (1100m) at his first appearance in 15 months.

Trainer Peter Moody predicted a brilliant display of speed on the eve of the race, but issued a warning to punters about the colt's condition holding up over the final 100-metres.

As predicted, Reward For Effort began like a bullet to assume the lead and kicked three lengths clear upon turning before fatigue set in over the concluding stages as a quartet of horses charged late.

On the line the $3.30 favourite had a short-head to spare over enigmatic sprinter Keano ($11), with grand veteran Royal Ida ($6) a short-half-head back in third.

Stanzout ($16), who came from last, and Arinos ($4) were less than a length from the winner in fourth and fifth place respectively.

The emotional victory capped a great day for Moody, jockey Luke Nolen and owners Dynamic Syndications who combined earlier in the program to win with emerging three-year-old stayer Triumphant Choice.

“It's been heart breaking the last 12 months to watch the other three-year-olds go around and collect the spoils whilst this bloke's been laying around not doing a lot,” Moody said of Reward For Effort.

“It's been a long ride, a hard ride, but the owners have been patient and happy to wait because I've always had the belief that he's as good a colt as there is in the land.

“I thought he should have won a Golden Slipper if the track wasn't heavy and hopefully he's allowed to get to those heights that I think he can.”

Moody paid tribute to Peter Clark at the Murchison-based Willow Wood Equicentre for his efforts in getting the horse back from the suspensory ligament injury that had derailed his career.

“Peter's had this horse for the bulk of the 12 months, probably barring the last three, and worked day and night to get him back. Thanks Pete,” Moody said.

Nolen said the horse had spent all his chips on the line, but he'd stolen a big enough break upon turning to hold off his fast finishing rivals.

“He was gassed, but he's done a great job Pete (Moody) to get him back because he's won first up and I thought that was a pipe dream because he's such a gross colt,” he said.

Moody has pencilled in the Group 3 $125,000 Bletchingly Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on 31 July as the horse's next target on the proviso that the track is not too wet.

“There's basically a race for him every two weeks....provided there's a suitable surface,” Moody said.

The other stars on Saturday's program were trainer Robert Smerdon and jockey Glen Boss who scored a double with the opening favourites Only He Knows and Breitling.

The wins saw Smerdon leapfrog fellow Caulfield trainer Mick Price to assume second place on the metro trainers premiership with 43 wins, one clear of Price, but still a whopping 38 in arrears of runaway winner Moody.