For a horse trainer Stephen Brown acknowledges he didn't want, Sea Lord has "got under his guard".

The five-year-old, which will compete in the Christmas Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on Wednesday, happened to be part of a group of horses Brown bought in a package deal.

The one he was really after was Winter King but Sea Lord and Bushcraft came along as part of a package of horses formerly trained in Sydney by David Payne.

Sea Lord has emerged as a star in his own right under Brown after being virtually written off following a form lapse in Sydney.

"He got under our guard for sure," Brown said. "He did on his first start but then we caught up with him.

"I didn't particularly want him. I was more after Winter King, but he came in the package and he showed blistering ability in his first jump-out at Flemington. I think he won by 15 lengths."

Brown, who made his name in Darwin and Macau, is about to become a full time resident at Flemington after being leased stables formerly occupied by David Hayes.

Sea Lord, who has won three times at Moonee Valley from his six starts for Brown, had a reputation as a problem horse in Sydney.

"Chad Schofield had been riding him in work for David Payne and I asked him about the horse and he said he had all sorts of problems," Brown said.

"He had feet problems and wind problems, but we haven't encountered any of those."

Brown feels his personalised training methods could be the key to Sea Lord's return to form.

"I'm probably a bit unconventional in my training methods.

"I reckon when you're getting a horse ready you should have it underdone rather than overdone," he said.

"A lot of people overdo it and they don't stay up long but our horses tend to stay up longer.

"I can't really put my finger on it but I'm just doing my own thing and it seems to be working."

Sea Lord has barrier five in Wednesday's Listed Sprint and will be ridden by Luke Currie who has been aboard for two of his three recent wins.