John Sadler admits Linton needs to produce something special to win the Group One Stradbroke Handicap at Eagle Farm on Saturday.

But the astute Victorian trainer hopes the combination of a significant gear change and schooling over the jumps might just prove the winning formula.

Linton has had Saturday's Stradbroke (1400m) as his aim this campaign and the trainer was delighted with the gelding's performance in a jump-out on Friday when he finished just behind Royal Ascot-bound colt Shamexpress.

The grey galloper had blinkers on in the straight-track hitout and Sadler confirmed he would wear them in Queensland's premier sprint.

It's the first time Linton will wear blinkers in a race since joining the Sadler team early last year.

"He's coming back to the 1400 metres which is a shorter trip for him," Sadler said.

"He's probably going better now than what he was before his two wins this time in, but we still need to pull a rabbit out of the hat to be able to win a Stradbroke with him.

"So along with some schooling and putting the blinkers on, we're hoping that that might do the trick."

Linton won a 1400m Listed race in Adelaide first-up this preparation carrying 62kg and returned to South Australia three weeks later to win the Group Three R A Lee Stakes (1600m) by a long head when he was "pitched in" at the weights with 56.5kg.

"He's been set for this race all preparation," Sadler said.

"He ran over 1400 metres and then a mile and now he's back to 1400 with a four-week break, which is ideal for him."

Linton will carry 54.5kg in the Stradbroke, a weight which ruled jockey Jamie Mott out.

Nick Hall rode Linton in Friday's trial and jumps back aboard him in a race for the first time since the Turnbull Stakes in 2011.

That was the gelding's final start for Lloyd Williams before he was sold and joined Sadler's team.

Linton has been placed three times at Group One level including his second in the 2011 Australian Cup, but has yet to win at racing's elite level.