Trainer Guy Walter is banking on a slow tempo in the Rough Habit Plate to boost Orca's prospects in Saturday's Group Three feature at Doomben.Orca produced a superb trial for next month's Queensland Derby (2400m) at Eagle Farm when runner-up to Za Magic in his Brisbane debut in the Group Three Doomben Classic (1615m) two weeks ago.The three-year-old earned a trip to Queensland with his only win in 16-starts in last month's Carbine Club Stakes (1600m) at Randwick.The son of Carnegie was with the

Trainer Guy Walter is banking on a slow tempo in the Rough Habit Plate to boost Orca's prospects in Saturday's Group Three feature at Doomben.

Orca produced a superb trial for next month's Queensland Derby (2400m) at Eagle Farm when runner-up to Za Magic in his Brisbane debut in the Group Three Doomben Classic (1615m) two weeks ago.

The three-year-old earned a trip to Queensland with his only win in 16-starts in last month's Carbine Club Stakes (1600m) at Randwick.

The son of Carnegie was with the tailenders in the Doomben Classic before winding up strongly in the straight.

However, Walter believes Orca won't need to be as far back in the Rough Habit Plate (2020m) on a rain-affected track.

Doomben is rated a heavy nine but course manager Warren Williams won't be surprised to see the track upgraded to slow if the current fine weather prevails.

Orca finished fourth to O'Lonhro at his only start on a heavy track over 1500 metres at Rosehill in February and ran third at his only appearance on a slow track in his debut as a two-year-old at Canterbury in February last year.

"He's headed to the Queensland Derby and I thought he ran well last time and made up a lot of ground," Walter said.

"He's showing promise for the future and he didn't have much luck last time.

"He got held up a couple of times in the back straight at Doomben when the pace slowed up front.

"They got home really quick that day but he was still running on strongly.

"On a wet track I think the speed will be a lot slower and I'm hoping he can race a lot closer."

Seymour trainer John Symons returns to the scene of his greatest triumph with Queensland Derby-bound Zupacool who also lines up in the Rough Habit Plate.

The three-year-old has won four of his nine starts but Symons, whose career highlight was winning the Group One Doomben 10,000 with Bel Esprit in 2003, believes his record should be far better.

"He's won his past three starts but he should have won his last six or seven," Symons, who trains in partnership with Melbourne Cup-winning trainer Sheila Laxon, said.

Laxon burst into prominence as the trainer of Ethereal who won the Group One Queensland Oaks in 2001 before claiming the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups double the same year.

Symons believes immaturity has also cost Zupacool from having a better record.

"He's been a slow maturer. We took him to Adelaide in March because it's an easier trip from here (Seymour)," he said.

"It was a huge run to run fifth over there in a mile (1600m) race and that's when we thought he might be a Derby horse."

Zupacool has never been on a wet track and Symons has no idea how he'll handle the conditions but does expect him to get back from the visitor's draw in barrier 16.