Jockey Ben Melham redeemed himself in the eyes of trainer Peter Moody with an all-the-way win on San Nicasio at Caulfield on Saturday.

Moody was critical of Melham's ride aboard the gelding at Sandown on Australia Day when fourth behind Java.

With a lack of pace in the Autumn Stakes (1400m), Melham took San Nicasio ($9) to the front and he held Zebulon ($13) at bay to score by three-quarters-of-a-length.

"We gave him a half out of ten at his previous ride on him, so he owed us that one," Moody said.

"He's a horse with nice ability and we would have been happy to take a sit, but it didn't present that way.

"It was ten out of ten today."

Moody said next month's Australian Guineas (1600m) was a possibility although there is a distance doubt on the three-year-old.

Melham said he was reluctant to take a trail on San Nicasio after the criticism he received after his Sandown ride.