“He was small and fat, had lumps on his legs – I thought ‘what the hell have I got myself in for here’,’’ O’Neill admitted.

Unwanted by his original trainer, Desert Samurai has made a habit of proving people wrong.

He made it to the racetrack, has won two races and been placed 10 times in 20 career starts and recovered from an illness that had him on death’s door 12 months ago.

“He’s a tough bugger,’’ O’Neill said.

“I thought we were going to lose him 12 months ago. He suffered a severe case of colic.

“We had to rush him down to Bendigo Equine Hospital and Sarah and Michael from the hospital stayed up all night operating on the horse.

“They did a great job to save him. He spent the next six months in the paddock and he’s come back better than he was… which you don’t see a lot after such a big operation.

“It’s a credit to the horse.”

After surviving his biggest test off the track, Desert Samurai now faces his biggest test on the track.

The five-year-old is the rank outsider in the field of nine for Wednesday’s Group Three Bendigo Cup (2400m).

Desert Samurai goes into the race on the back of a third placing in the Avoca Cup.

“I’ve had the Bendigo Cup in the back of mind for a while, but this year is more about getting him ready for next year,’’ O’Neill said.

“The distance at Avoca didn’t suit him, but there were no other races around that suited us. We used Avoca as a lead-up run to get his fitness right for Bendigo.

“He was unlucky to run into a horse of the quality of Count Of Limonade at Avoca. He’s a dual stakes winner, a Group Three placegetter and he’s beaten Prince Of Penzance.

“When we saw our horse only finished a couple of lengths behind in third at Avoca we decided to put him in the Bendigo Cup. He’s come through the Avoca run really well and he looks super.

“I couldn’t be happier with him. It’s going to be tough, but I’m sure he’ll run a good race.”

O’Neill said Desert Samurai’s loyal group of owners deserved the thrill of having a runner in a feature cup.

“The owners have stuck with this horse from the start,’’ O’Neill said.

“This group purchased shares in the horse before he was even born and they’ve stuck with him ever since.

“I’m so happy for them because they love this horse so much. They put everything aside for this horse. No training bill is too much for them as long as he is well cared for.

“They know the reality of the race… that we’re the lowest rated horse in a Group Three race, but they’re very excited the horse gets to run in a Bendigo Cup.”

Desert Samurai was rated a $61 chance for the Cup on Crownbet when markets opened.

Under-rated hoop Cory Parish is back on top of Desert Samurai. He was the last jockey to win on the gelding – at Echuca over 2100m in June this year.