John Wheeler concedes he's been let down by the form of last year's Queensland Derby winner Court Ruler but isn't giving up on him in Saturday's Listed Queensland Cup at Eagle Farm.Court Ruler has failed in all of his five races during the winter commencing with a sluggish eighth to Metal Bender in the Group Two Hollindale Stakes (1800m) at the Gold Coast in May.The four-year-old subsequently flopped in the Premier's, Brisbane and Tattersall's Cups before finishing ninth to Ironstein in last wee

John Wheeler concedes he's been let down by the form of last year's Queensland Derby winner Court Ruler but isn't giving up on him in Saturday's Listed Queensland Cup at Eagle Farm.

Court Ruler has failed in all of his five races during the winter commencing with a sluggish eighth to Metal Bender in the Group Two Hollindale Stakes (1800m) at the Gold Coast in May.

The four-year-old subsequently flopped in the Premier's, Brisbane and Tattersall's Cups before finishing ninth to Ironstein in last week's Listed Caloundra Cup (2400m).

"His Caloundra Cup effort was probably one of his better runs but I've got to say he's been very disappointing over here this winter," Wheeler said.

"I can't put a finger on it but sometimes horses don't come up in their four-year-old year.

"The Queensland Cup is the last roll of the dice for him and I think it'll suit him, especially if we get some rain."

Wheeler is hopeful Court Ruler can bounce back to rediscover his best form in the Queensland Cup before being turned out for a spell.

"I'm going to give him a decent break after the Queensland Cup and hopefully he'll come back better as a five-year-old," he said.

Wheeler is unconcerned about Court Ruler coping with 3200 metres for the first time.

"I don't think two miles will worry him one bit," he said.

"He just about ran the distance when he was caught three wide without cover the whole way in the Caloundra Cup."

Wheeler rates fellow New Zealander Tinseltown as the main threat to Court Ruler in Saturday's feature.

"I couldn't imagine him beating Tinseltown on his (Tinseltown's) Caloundra Cup run," Wheeler said.

"Tinseltown's run was simply super.

"I know he's failed over the trip twice before but this field isn't that strong and he's racing very well."

Larry Cassidy, who won the Queensland Derby on Court Ruler last year, will again partner him in the Queensland Cup.

Cassidy was not aboard the son of Viking Ruler in his first three starts this winter before reuniting with him when seventh to Mirrasalo in the Group Three Tattersall's Cup (2200m) at Eagle Farm last month and the Caloundra Cup.

Trainer Mike Moroney is giving Tinseltown, topweight with 58kg, one last chance to prove himself over the Queensland Cup journey.

Tinseltown has failed twice over the trip in the past two Auckland Cups at Ellerslie when the gelding finished seventh to Spin Around last year and 11th to Zavite in March this year.

Tinseltown will create a weight-carrying record since metrics were introduced in 1972 if successful.

The Jim Atkins-trained Grey Affair carried 57 kilograms in his 1979 Cup triumph.

The highest-weighted horse to win the Queensland Cup since it was first run in 1878 was Barallan who lumped 62 kilograms (9 stone 11lbs) in 1909.