The landscape for the Cups and Cox Plate turned in the space of two minutes when talented galloper Littorio broke through for a long overdue win in today's Group 1 Patinack Turnbull Stakes.

Littorio, the “weight” horse in the race, had been in excellent form at the top level over the spring, and his whole three-year-old season for that matter, but his sole win remained a debut success in a Sale maiden.

But today, with the blinkers added, he stalked the hot favourite Weekend Hussler throughout before peeling off his back in the straight.

While Weekend Hussler was left floundering, Littorio charged home as he does to score an easy win, with jockey Steven King standing up in the irons near the line.

Equally impressive was the run of Master O'Reilly, last year's Caulfield Cup winner, who looks on track for that race with his effort from near last to finish second.

Zipping hit the line hard to finish third, edging out Pompeii Ruler who hit the front early in the straight but couldn't hold off the finishers.

The shock of the race was the labouring eighth of Weekend Hussler, who did settle midfield and covered ground throughout from the outside gate but showed little dash in the straight.

Trainer Ross McDonald said Weekend Hussler had pulled up without any problems but had endured a tough run throughout the race. He added he would press on to the Caulfield Cup.

Pompeii Ruler did best of the leading fancies to finish fourth, where Maldivian was well beaten after settling just off the leaders.

Sydney mare Tuesday Joy, who was well back throughout, bled from both nostrils and is now out for the spring.

It is a major blow for trainer Gai Waterhouse who, as always, dominated today's meeting in Sydney but luck deserted her in Melbourne.

The addition of blinkers on Littorio by trainer Nigel Blackiston proved a masterstroke to his return to form.

He had placed behind Weekend Hussler in his first two runs of the spring but was only winding up late after the race was all over. He was on his game today and there was no “flat-spot” when the pace went on.

Blackiston, who bought the gelding for just $15,000, had resisted the blinkers until today but he now goes into the Caulfield Cup as one of, if not the leading hope in the race as he has just 52.5kg.

“He's been racing super but just had no luck,” Blackiston said. “The Caulfield and Melbourne Cups have always been our plans so we're very happy.”

Jockey Steven King has now won the Turnbull three times, a race which has proven a top guide to the big three feature races.

In 1991 he steered Let's Elope to a Turnbull success before she won the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups, while in 2005 he was aboard Makybe Diva, who then finished a narrow second in the Caulfield Cup before winning the Melbourne Cup.

“We've done a lot of work with him to get him to relax,” King said. “He's the ideal Cups horse and he gets in with no weight.”