TRAINER Robert Pearson is out to defy his critics tomorrow afternoon with TRADITIONAL PRINCE, favourite for the $2.95m Cash Pot 'Only One For Me' Trophy at 1200 metres, the opening leg of the $11.8m Supreme Ventures Limited (SVL) Two-Year-Old Series.

Pearson, who earned his trainers' licence a little over four years ago, has had few runners since. He won his first race on August 14 with TRADITIONAL PRINCE.

The smart-looking colt followed up with his second win from three starts on September 25, turning back Philip Feanny's filly, ISNT SHE SOMETHIN, at 1300 metres.

However, railbirds have been sceptical of TRADITIONAL PRINCE's preparation, just two speed gallops, both easy half miles, since his September 25 victory.

In contrast, his main rivals, champion trainer Wayne DaCosta's FATTY BUM BUM and Richard Azan's HEBIOUS CORPUS, have been flying around at exercise in the mornings.

Pearson's reasoning, the railbirds claim, is that TRADITIONAL PRINCE is the only horse in the field to have won beyond five and a half furlongs.

Therefore, he has no need to gun his runner at exercise.

His detractors disagree and believe the inexperienced trainer is treating the bay colt with kids' gloves.

Many-time champion trainer Feanny has warned that an upset could be in store due to a faster pace, as the best two-year-olds so far this season meet each other for the first time.

"TRADITIONAL PRINCE has won twice convincingly and a horse like him could win, if allowed to dictate and do things his way, but the nature and pace of the race will change," Feanny pointed out at the launch of the three-race SVL series, which offers a $1m bonus for a clean sweep.

"I expect a lot more pace with the likes of FATTY BUM BUM. The pace will definitely change," Feanny added.

DaCosta's FATTY BUM BUM was a fast-time winner at 1100 metres when fitted with a tongue-tie on August 28, beating ANOTHER TRAIN by four lengths in 1:07.2.

Since that afternoon, DaCosta's filly has been looking great at exercise in back-to-back six-furlong gallops, clocking 1:14.3 and 1:14.2, two Mondays ago and last Sunday morning, respectively.

She'll be coming to steal the race from in front, having posted a half-mile split of 46.1 last time out, and must be a dangerous contender if allowed to slip away on the lead.

However, the battle for the lead will be hot as Feanny's ISNT SHE SOMETHIN, SHINING GOLD, who clocked 45.4 for 800 metres straight on September 29, along with SKIPPING BOY and BLENDER, will ensure a warm pace. This should work in TRADITIONAL PRINCE's favour as he is expected to sit in the catbird seat and watch the speedsters cut each other's throats.

Azan's HEBIOUS CORPUS, who will be treated with lasix tomorrow, came home strong when winning at 1000 metres round on September 22, and could be a threat. However, TRADITIONAL PRINCE's experience, especially his first race, a three-and-a-half length second-place finish behind the impressive American MISMYRTLEBOYRICHIE, in which he had another American behind in third, SHE SELL OFF, indicated that Pearson's runner was above average.

Despite Pearson's tender handling of TRADITIONAL PRINCE at exercise, the bay colt looks athletic and classy enough to get his million-dollar trek off to a flying start.