Jockey Craig Newitt has flagged Sydney galloper Zabrasive as a big improver with blinkers back on in the Group One Turnbull Stakes at Flemington.The four-year-old, who finished second last in the Group One Underwood Stakes two weeks ago, hasn't worn the shades since last autumn when he won the Rosehill Guineas and finished fourth in the AJC Australian Derby.Newitt said the gear change was significant for the John O'Shea-trained gelding in the 2000m feature at Flemington on Sunday."With the blink

Jockey Craig Newitt has flagged Sydney galloper Zabrasive as a big improver with blinkers back on in the Group One Turnbull Stakes at Flemington.

The four-year-old, who finished second last in the Group One Underwood Stakes two weeks ago, hasn't worn the shades since last autumn when he won the Rosehill Guineas and finished fourth in the AJC Australian Derby.

Newitt said the gear change was significant for the John O'Shea-trained gelding in the 2000m feature at Flemington on Sunday.

"With the blinkers back on this week he will improve out of sight," Newitt said.

"They took them off this prep just to kick him off but he is getting serious now with the bigger races coming."

Zabrasive was ridden back from a wide gate in the 1800m Underwood but in a slowly-run race was left flat-footed when the field sprinted.

Newitt said the extra distance in the Turnbull would also suit Zabrasive better.

"His Underwood run was a lot better than it looked," Newitt said.

"His sectionals were good but just the way the race was run he had no hope."

At his other start this campaign Zabrasive was hampered a number of times when he finished fifth to So You Think in the Memsie Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield.

Newitt said Zabrasive had trained on for the Turnbull and only had to run up to his trackwork to threaten at big odds.

"On his work Tuesday morning I would be disappointed if he was not in the finish," Newitt said.

Zabrasive is at $31 with TAB Sportsbet and the Turnbull has been known for its upsets in recent years with winners like Efficient ($26, 2009), Littorio ($9, 2008), Devil Moon ($14, 2007) and Studebaker ($15, 2003).

Jockey James Winks said Vigor ($12) was a forgotten horse in the Turnbull and that his performance on Sunday would answer questions about his prospects for the higher-profile spring races.

Vigor finished just in front of Zabrasive when fourth first-up in the Memsie Stakes and last start battled on gamely when third to Shocking and Heart Of Dreams in the Group Two Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m), which he won last year.

Vigor finished near last in the 2009 Turnbull but was third at his next run in the Caulfield Cup.

Trainer Danny O'Brien has given the six-year-old a month without a run and taken the blinkers off him on Sunday.

Winks said stepping up to 2000 metres with a gap between the Makybe Diva and the Turnbull was a query but he backed O'Brien's judgment.

"Danny's always had the impression that Vigor doesn't need much racing because he's quite a clean-winded horse," Winks said.

"Everyone has forgotten about him (Vigor) a bit because he hasn't raced for a month but the horse is good.

"His coat is not there yet but it's starting to come through so he will be spot-on whichever way he goes after Sunday."

Typhoon Tracy is at $8 to win her first start at 2000 metres and trainer Peter Moody is looking forward to the challenge.

"It is exciting," Moody said.

"Very few horses win their first run at 2000 metres hence the reason I have made sure she is going to have the run at the trip before she goes to the Cox Plate.

"I think the big stretches at Flemington and the dry (ground) play in her favour."