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The Lindsay Park team is confident the widely-travelled sprinter Faatinah is ready to perform at his best at Moonee Valley on Saturday when he has his first local start since returning from Dubai.

Co-trainer Ben Hayes says Faatinah has been in sparkling form on the training track as he prepares for Saturday’s Listed Carlyon Stakes (1000m).

Faatinah gave the stable a confidence boost with an impressive 800m hit-out at Flemington yesterday, leaving the Hayes/Dabernig team confident that he had improved with his trip to Dubai early this year.

The 6YO gelding had three starts at Meydan in Dubai between January and March, recording a win and a second placing in strong 1200m features before finishing eighth in the G1 Al Quoz Sprint (1200m) on World Cup night.

"I think he's improved a bit. He's always been a backward horse and he's finally fully matured," Hayes said.

“His work has been excellent. He has a very good fresh record and he’s been working the best we've seen him work for a long time so the signs are good."

“I think he'll be really competitive this weekend.”

Hayes said another trip to Dubai in 2019 was on the agenda for Faatinah.

"The plan will be similar to last year. We'll give him a light spring with the idea of taking him back to Dubai."

Tulip, one of the best mares ion the Lindsay Park stable, makes a low key start to her spring campaign on Saturday in a BM90 over 1200m at Moonee Valley.

Tulip has not raced since she well back in the G1 Ubet Classic over 1200m at Morphettville in May but she boasts a good fresh record and has produced some of her best form at Moonee Valley where she has raced three times for two wins and a placing.