Villa Verde is showing her trainer all the signs she is primed to bounce back from a winless autumn when she returns to the track at Caulfield on Saturday.

The one-time Golden Slipper favourite resumes in a 1000m race against her own age in her first start since finishing among the tailenders in the Sires' Produce Stakes at Randwick in April.

That brought to a close a winless three-run Sydney campaign which included a seventh in the Slipper.

Trainer Shaun Dwyer said the wash-up from the autumn was that Villa Verde had a lung issue but she appeared to be over it after a good spell and a pleasing build-up to the spring.

"She had a lung issue. A bit of inflammation similar to an allergy. We're not totally sure where it came from but it came," Dwyer said.

Villa Verde has been back in work for nine weeks and Dwyer says she hasn't missed a beat.

The grey sprinter made a big impression last spring with two dominant wins including her debut when she beat subsequent Golden Slipper winner Overreach.

Villa Verde is favourite in the Nine West Plate (1000m) with Dwyer confident but also cautious.

"I guess if you get a hiding, the next time you step in the ring you're still a bit wary no matter how well you've prepared," the trainer said.

"But I'm reasonably confident she's back on track. There's some nice horses in this race. Last year they probably wouldn't have beaten her and I'm of the opinion that they probably won't, all going well, on Saturday."

The Blue Sapphire Stakes (1200m) is Villa Verde's planned second-up run before the Group One Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) three weeks later.

Dwyer will nominate the filly for the weight-for-age Patinack Farm Classic, a week after the Coolmore, but said she would not run in both.