With an exceptional record in Melbourne in recent years, South Australia’s leading trainer rarely takes a horse across the border without the expectation of a competitive effort.

But there has been little fanfare around his Victoria Derby hopeful Colonel Custer — and Stokes is just fine with that.

The lightly raced three-year-old, a $200,000 buy at the 2014 New Zealand Bloodstock Yearling Sale, is rated a $26 chance in latest UBET fixed-odds markets for Saturday’s $1.5 million Group 1 event at Flemington, with the Mick-Price trained Tarzino the raging favourite at $2.60.

Colonel Custer’s task became more challenging when he drew near the outside in barrier 14 and master jockey Craig Williams will need to be at his best to position his charge to advantage.

Stokes, however, remains upbeat about the colt’s prospects in the 2500m blue-riband feature on the back of a luckless seventh to Derby rival Extra Choice in the Geelong Classic 10 days ago.

“They might have dismissed him but I think the horse is going really well,” Stokes said.

“He had no luck at Geelong and I’m sure he’ll stay.

“He’s drawn a bit of a sticky barrier and will need a bit of luck.

“Craig Williams has had a couple of sits on him during the week and he has a better understanding of the horse now, so that’s good.

“Obviously I’d want him to be getting a bit of cover somewhere but I’m just not sure where that will happen from that barrier.

“It’s an open Derby. I don’t think there’s a standout.

“If our horse didn’t get knocked from pillar to post at Geelong and finished right up there, people wouldn’t be dismissing him … but I’m happy to be going into it nice and quiet.”

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