The world's highest-rated sprinter Chautauqua has ramped up preparations for his spring return with a jump-out win at Flemington.

Dwayne Dunn rode Chautauqua in Friday morning's 800m hit-out down the straight with the multiple Group One-winner beating Hear The Chant to win the 800m-heat by about half a length.

"He trialled excellent," Dunn said.

"He's probably still got a fair bit of residual fitness from his trip away (to Hong Kong) and I'm really impressed with the way he's come back.

"He's got a few big missions ahead of him and he looks terrific and trialled up fantastic."

Chautauqua is scheduled to make his first spring appearance in the Group One Moir Stakes (1000m) at Moonee Valley in two weeks.

"It was about going through the motions with him," Dunn said.

"Usually he can be a little bit fresh and do a little bit too much, but this morning he was great.

"It just blows the cobwebs out."

Chautauqua has won five Group One races including three last preparation when he was successful in the Lightning Stakes at Flemington with Dunn aboard and the TJ Smith Stakes in Sydney and Chairman's Sprint Prize in Hong Kong when ridden by Tommy Berry.

"I don't think the trip overseas has affected him at all," Dunn said.

"He's taken that in his stride and he feels the same as what he did before."

Dunn rated Friday's jump-out from Chautuauqua as "just a bit above standard" for the gelding's first trial of a preparation.

"And that will just turn him back on to say he's back here ready to race," he said.

"He's done all his slow work now, so that should just lift him."

The Moir Stakes on September 30 under lights looms as a stellar race with Blue Diamond winner Extreme Choice and three-time Moir Stakes winner Buffering expected to be among Chautauqua's rivals.

"It's going to be a hard race mission," Dunn said.

"It's probably going to be a full field around the Valley. That's probably where he's most vulnerable, but we know how well he comes off that home bend and how much he can quicken," he said.

Chautauqua won the McEwen Stakes and Manikato Stakes at Moonee Valley last spring.