Stephen Marsh will be hoping a new look Sofia Rosa can deliver a sharper performance at Te Rapa on Saturday.

The Group One-winning mare will sport blinkers for the first time when she steps out in the Gr.1 Fiber Fresh New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders' Stakes.

Last season's Australian Oaks winner pleased Marsh when she worked in the headgear at Cambridge on Tuesday morning.

"I thought she worked really well," he said. "She has been doing a few things wrong in her last few runs. She has been laying in and laying out and we are hoping that blinkers will sharpen her up and make her concentrate a bit more."

Sofia Rosa should be close to peak fitness on Saturday after four runs this preparation. She finished seventh in the Gr.1 NRM Sprint fresh-up before running third in the Gr.1 Haunui WFA Classic.

She then went to Sydney for a crack at the Gr.1 Ranvet Stakes, but weakened out to fifth, in a seven-horse field.

However, she still had two Group One winners behind her and the four who finished ahead of her - Our Ivanhowe, Hartnell, The United States and Antonio Giuseppe - represent much tougher company than she will meet at Te Rapa.

"We have given her a little freshen up since Sydney and she still has that base fitness," Marsh said.

"I don't want a bottomless track, but she should handle the ground, she's back against fillies and mares and I can't see why she won't be a massive hope."

Danielle Johnson will ride Sofia Rosa on Saturday with Opie Bosson riding stablemate Thee Auld Floozie, who completes a strong hand for Marsh.