John Wheeler knows what's required to win the Queensland Derby and is looking to Keyora to provide him with his third victory in the Group One feature.Wheeler has won the 2400m classic at Eagle Farm twice with Rough Habit in 1990 and Court Ruler last year.The New Zealand trainer paid a $13,750 late entry last week to start Keyora in Saturday's Queensland Derby following the colt's eye catching sixth to Kutchinsky in the Group Three Grand Prix Stakes (2200m) at Eagle Farm on May 29.Keyora came t

John Wheeler knows what's required to win the Queensland Derby and is looking to Keyora to provide him with his third victory in the Group One feature.

Wheeler has won the 2400m classic at Eagle Farm twice with Rough Habit in 1990 and Court Ruler last year.

The New Zealand trainer paid a $13,750 late entry last week to start Keyora in Saturday's Queensland Derby following the colt's eye catching sixth to Kutchinsky in the Group Three Grand Prix Stakes (2200m) at Eagle Farm on May 29.

Keyora came to Queensland with three wins and two placings from 15 starts including Group Two victories in the Hawke's Bay Guineas at Hastings and Breeders Guineas at Trentham last October.

However, the Queensland Derby was far from Wheeler's mind when he sent him across the Tasman.

"Two months ago I didn't think he would make a Derby horse," Wheeler said.

"He's always shown me a lot of ability but when I sent him to Brisbane for the winter I was looking at some of the other three-year-old races and the Stradbroke.

"In his first half a dozen or so starts he raced very relaxed but it all changed for him after the Two Thousand Guineas last year.

"He was hunted up to be with the leaders in the Two Thousand Guineas and from that day on until just recently he's over-raced."

Keyora weakened to finish seventh to Katie Lee in the Group One Two Thousand Guineas (1600m) last November and was immediately spelled with future sprint campaigns in Wheeler's mind.

The trainer's belief that Keyora was unlikely to stay was confirmed when he raced in a similar manner for his first four starts in his next preparation.

However, Wheeler's opinion of him suddenly changed the day Keyora was runner-up to I Am Sam on a heavy track at Pukekura on May 15.

"He dropped the bit that day for the first time in a while," Wheeler said.

"That's when I started to think again that maybe he could stick on."

Wheeler was delighted with Keyora's effort to finish sixth, just over two lengths behind Kutchinsky in the Grand Prix.

"He went from a 1400 metre race to 2200 metres and it was a great run in his first start over here," Wheeler said.

"He got a few bumps and was forced to change ground a couple of times in the straight.

"He only got into the clear 300 metres out and with a bit more luck could have finished a lot closer."

Wheeler compares Keyora favourably to Court Ruler and has retained Hugh Bowman to partner him in the Queensland Derby.

"Hugh is a great rider and his soft hands are just what this horse needs," he said.

"He's every bit as good as Court Ruler and he won this race last year.

"But the Derby looks a much stronger race this year and I'm very impressed with The Hombre.

The Hombre was awarded the Group Three Rough Habit (2020m) at Doomben on May 15 on protest in his Australian debut.

The gelding subsequently confirmed his high ranking for the Queensland Derby going down in a photo to Kutchinsky in the Grand Prix Stakes.