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Coming back from a second injury lay-off, Melbourne Cup hopeful Schabau has pleased his trainer Robert Hickmott at Flemington.

Dual Melbourne Cup winning trainer Robert Hickmott was happy with the return of Schabau at Flemington. 

Schabau finished eighth to Furrion in the ATA Celebrates Women Trainers Handicap (2000m) at Flemington on Saturday, his first outing since running sixth in the Hotham Handicap (2500m) at Flemington last October. 

Hickmott, who won the Melbourne Cup with Green Moon in 2012 and Almandin four years later, hopes to follow a similar program to the one that proved successful with Almandin. 

The Lloyd and Nick Williams-owned Almandin raced through the winter months before securing his Melbourne Cup start by winning The Bart Cummings (2500m) a month earlier. 

Almandin was coming off a tendon injury prior to winning his Cup while Schabau also suffered a tendon injury which put him on the sidelines for 14 months before having bone chips removed from a fetlock joint after his last campaign. 

He was also gelded which Hickmott said had improved Schabau's manners. 

Hickmott said he was happy with Schabau's performance on Saturday. 

"We didn't know where his fitness levels were at under race pressure, but he hit the line nicely," Hickmott said. 

"But he did a few things wrong, wanting to lay-in up the straight It's not soreness, it's probably a few little habits that he formed when he was a colt. 

"He saddled up great, presented well in the mounting yard and I couldn't be happier with that side of it. 

"Jack (Hill) said maybe go with a more severe hanging bit and maybe a one-eyed blinker just to straighten him up. 

"He said if he goes straight, he would have won. I don't know about that, but it was a lovely return and he will derive a lot of benefit out of that."