It was on that day that Littorio left some of the best gallopers in the land in his wake - including Weekend Hussler, Pompeii Ruler, Master O'Reilly and Zipping - to leapfrog to favourite for the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups.

Tomorrow he is again over 2000m at Flemington and third-up from a spell.

As he did in October 2008, Blackiston is placing the blinkers back on Littorio.

Since his Turnbull win, Littorio has had only six starts. He finished fifth in the Caulfield Cup before failing in the Mackinnon Stakes and the Melbourne Cup.

He had one start in 2009 for a last in the George Ryder Stakes on a heavy track in Sydney.

Blackiston said Littorio had had bone jarring in his legs and needed a rest.

"He's a big, heavy horse and his legs weren't coping with the pressure being put on them. I thought the best idea was to put him away for a long spell and miss last spring," he said.

"It's been a long, slow process but so far there's no signs of his old problems. He's very well in himself and he's been keen in his trackwork."

The strategy appears to have paid off as Littorio has shown he is on his way back to his best in his two runs this time in.

He ran a solid fifth behind Typhoon Tracy in the 1400m Orr Stakes and then finished well for fourth, beaten three lengths by La Rocket, in the 1800m St George Stakes. Both runs were at Caulfield.

"I thought his two runs have been excellent as he isn't really suited by Caulfield as he tends to wobble around the turns because he's such a big horse," Blackiston said.

"I've put the blinkers back on him so he doesn't have a flat spot in his race. My main concern going into the race is the lack of speed in it but he has settled handy in his two runs this time in."

Blackiston said Littorio's main goal for the autumn was the 2400m BMW at Rosehill on April 3.

Littoriowill be ridden by Craig Williams, who won last year's Australian Cup on Niconero.

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