Group One winner Littorio is progressing well towards his comeback in the C F Orr Stakes in early February.The gelding's career was interrupted by bone soreness, a condition trainer Nigel Blackiston said was caused by racing on hard tracks in the spring of 2008.Nom Du Jeu, the 2008 AJC Australian Derby winner, also suffered from the same ailment and was retired after he finished last in this year's Cox Plate.Now a five-year-old, Littorio has raced just once since running 13th behind Viewed in th

Group One winner Littorio is progressing well towards his comeback in the C F Orr Stakes in early February.

The gelding's career was interrupted by bone soreness, a condition trainer Nigel Blackiston said was caused by racing on hard tracks in the spring of 2008.

Nom Du Jeu, the 2008 AJC Australian Derby winner, also suffered from the same ailment and was retired after he finished last in this year's Cox Plate.

Now a five-year-old, Littorio has raced just once since running 13th behind Viewed in the 2008 Melbourne Cup and that was when last to Vision And Power in the George Ryder Stakes (1500m) on a heavy track at Rosehill on April 4 this year.

But Blackiston believes Littorio is well on the way to a successful return to the track.

"He's stepping along nicely in his work and will resume in the C F Orr Stakes," Blackiston said.

"He's been back for over a couple of months now. I'm taking it nice and slowly with him.

"He's having a typical English preparation and by the time he races he'll have been in work for nearly four months.

"He jarred up so badly after the Melbourne Cup. The hard tracks are my main concern."

Two seasons ago, Littorio was one of the most promising staying three-year-olds in the country.

He was placed at Group One level three times when second to Kibbutz in the Victoria Derby, third to Dealer Principal in the Rosehill Guineas and third to Nom Du Jeu in the AJC Australian Derby.

As a four-year-old he was third to Weekend Hussler in both the Makybe Diva Stakes and the Underwood Stakes before giving Blackiston the first Group One success of his career when he won the Turnbull Stakes at Flemington.

He was sent out favourite in the 2008 Caulfield Cup and finished fifth to All The Good.

The Group One C F Orr Stakes (1400m) is on February 6.