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Peter Moody-trained Reward For Effort has kicked off his spring campaign on a winning note with victory in the Listed Monash Stakes (1100m).

The three-year-old who hadn't been seen at the races since the 2009 Golden Slipper led throughout to post a first up win following his lengthy spell.

Reward For Effort has now recorded four wins from six career starts with earnings closing in on $900,000.

Reward For Effort's winning return resulted in the Exceed And Excel colt being given a Timeform rating of 109, a figure 12 points below the rating he achieved when he won the Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) as a two-year-old in February 2009.

The Timeform figure of 109 Reward For Effort achieved in the Monash Stakes is below the five year average rating of the race of 113, the colt however did not face the quality of field which has lined up for the event in years prior.

In an event where three-year-olds boast a strong record, Lucky Secret won the race in 2007 and has since gone on to win three Group 2 events and also finish runner up in the 2009 Oakleigh Plate behind Swiss Ace.

The Tony Vasil-trained sprinter has recorded the highest Timeform rating after winning the Monash Stakes in recent years with 115.

The Listed Monash Stakes has traditionally been a stepping stone for horses headed toward Group-class sprint races during the spring such as the Bletchingly Stakes and the Group 1 Manikato Stakes.

Other previous winners of the Monash Stakes include Group 1 winner Super Elegant (2004/2005) and Sassbee.

After winning the 2006 Monash Stakes, Sassbee went on to be runner up next start in the Group 3 McEwen Trophy, immediately followed by a third in the Group 1 Manikato Stakes. On both occasions Sassbee ran behind Miss Andretti.

Reward For Effort is expected to also head toward the Manikato in September.