However, Templeton (pictured with Prinsom) has good reason - he'll be saddling up a runner in the $1.5 million Victoria Derby (group one) at Flemington.

Prinsom may well be the rank outsider of the field, but his trainer is expecting a competitive performance.

``He ran seventh in the Geelong Classic, but the pleasing thing is he was doing his best work late,'' Templeton said.

``It was the last roll of the dice for him to prove himself and we thought he did enough to warrant a crack at the Derby.

``The one thing he showed is that he will almost certainly run the trip.

``I am supremely confident he will run the 2500 metre right out and there are a few that have a question mark over them in that regard.''

With stakes of $30,000 down to eighth place, Templeton is confident that with an uninterrupted run, Prinsom can work his way into the front half of the field.

``At Geelong he was held up for a run at the top of the straight and a lot of horses circled him and stole a break before he could get wound up, but if anything he was taking ground off them at the finish once he got balanced up,'' he said.

``Mark Zahra rode him at Geelong and will take the ride again. I spoke to him at Sale on Sunday and he was very upbeat.

``It would be fair to say we are going there not confident of winning by any stretch, but we are going there very confident he will run well and get the journey.

``Racing is a funny game and only time will tell.''