The fact O'Malley ran in Saturday's Bruce Gasden Handicap at Flemington was the best pointer to his chances, according to trainer Enver Jusufovic.

Jusufovic won't run his horses when he thinks they can't win, preferring to save them for races where they are capable of achieving a maximum return.

The Cranbourne trainer has 15 horses in work but has sent just 58 starters to the races this season.

"I hate going to the races for the sake of racing. I prefer to be on the golf course if we've got no chance," Jusufovic said.

O'Malley's record is a testament to Jusufovic's policy after the three-year-old posted his third win to accompany two seconds from five starts.

The heavily backed O'Malley firmed from $4.80 to $3 before coming from midfield to notch his second successive city win by 1-1/4 lengths over Cosmic Lights ($4.80) and Handsome Tycoon ($5.50).

Jusufovic said he took stock four years ago and made changes he said had ensured the survival of his training business.

"I walked around the stables and thought `I'm not going anywhere' but I walk around the stables now and think I'm going somewhere," Jusufovic said.

"I've got rid of things, I've changed some things and I've got some good people around me. It was either sink or swim four years ago and we are starting to bear the fruits."

Jusufovic has not planned a spring campaign for O'Malley, who replaced the recently retired Briefed as the stable star with his Flemington win.

"He had to win today and win well but I certainly think he's a horse on the way up," Jusufovic said.