Adam O'Neill will have his first runner in his home track's major Country Cup at Bendigo on Wednesday, with Desert Samurai lining up in the 2400m Jayco Bendigo Cup.

O'Neill has been back training at Bendigo for the past four years, after returning from a stint based in Queensland.

Cory Parish, who is a regular fixture on O'Neill-trained horses, will take the ride. The pair have combined in nine of O'Neill's last 15 wins.

"It will be fantastic to have a runner in the Bendigo Cup and I am glad that it is this horse as we have been through a lot with him," said O'Neill.

Desert Samurai, whilst with his previous trainer was 'sacked' by one of his first owners who was told "he's too immature" and then the horse was given away to his strapper at the time.

After some of the other original owners found out that the horse had been given away they approached the strapper and asked if they could give him another chance at being a racehorse.

The strapper agreed and one of the remaining owners had Desert Samurai in his back paddock for a year, where he was given every opportunity to continue to grow.

"I remember when Desert Samurai first arrived at my stables he was a plump looking little two-year-old with a pot belly and a hairy coat," added O'Neill.

"He started to catch my eye just with his movement and the amount of ground he could cover in his stride.

"I felt I had something to work with, although he still had a fair way to go as he was a November foal so he had a bit of catching up to do."

"He was still a bit immature, we used to work him with Bold Approach who seemed to be a bad influence on him as they would cause a bit of trouble down at the track."

Desert Samurai continued to grow and mature and started to show a bit of promise at the races. He broke his maiden over 1600m at Seymour in a nice Vobis race, after a close second the start before.

He was a very consistent horse as a three-year-old and was rarely out of the placings, until a serious bout of colic abruptly ended his preparation.

"We came to the stables late one night after picking up a new horse and found him to be very distressed.

"He didn't respond to any treatment and was rushed to the Bendigo Equine Hospital, where surgeons Sarah and Michael spent the night saving his life."

Desert Samurai spent the next six months on the sidelines recovering but came back better than ever.

He has returned to racing as consistent as he was and has paved his way to the Bendigo Cup with some quality runs in other country cups. 

"He won again when he came back over 2100m and was then fourth to Authoritarian at the Valley, who has shown he is a quality stayer, winning the Moe Cup since as well.

"His last two starts he has finished third in races that haven't suited him over 1400m and 1860m, with his last start finishing behind the Euopean stakes winner Count Of Limonade and dual Group 1 winner Puccini in the Avoca Cup.

"The step up to the 2400m will really suit him and we haven't seen him stretched out to this distance for a while so it will be great to see him in a race that really suits him.