Just For Starters has returned from almost a year off the scene to post a late-season win at Caulfield and jockey Craig Newitt believes the horse can keep progressing.

The three-year-old, who has had knee issues, had not raced since he finished last in the Vain Stakes at his third career start last August.

Trainer Robbie Laing said the plan was to bring Just For Starters back at this time of year because he liked wet ground but the son of Foreplay struck a good surface on Saturday in the Noel Elizabeth Barter Handicap (1000m).

Just For Starters ($8) was able to trail the leader and $3 favourite Sunday Escape, ridden by Craig Williams, before peeling off his back in the straight to challenge.

Premiership-chasing jockey Damien Oliver was aboard Corsica Lad ($5) who issued a strong bid on the outside of Just For Starters but was denied by a short head with Sunday Escape another three-quarters of a length away third.

"I think he's above average," Newitt said of Just For Starters.

"He's only lightly raced and obviously had his problems late last preparation.

"He wasn't screwed down for that race today against older, seasoned horses and when the chips were down he just kept finding a way to win."

Laing said Just For Starters, a winner at Caulfield on debut a year ago, pulled up sore after last year's Vain Stakes.

"It was just jarring up," Laing said.

"He doesn't have a lot of cartilage in his knee joints so what we planned to do was miss the summer, miss the autumn and bring him here for wet tracks. But it was a good three (today)."