Trainer John Wheeler believes this year's Group One Queensland Derby at Eagle Farm could unveil a future star.Wheeler, who will saddle up Keyora, rates Saturday's 2400-metre feature as the strongest Queensland Derby line-up he's seen despite the scratching of the Bart Cummings-trained Landlord.Landlord was ruled out on Friday with a bruised foot but Cummings' stable foreman Reg Fleming expects the three-year-old to be back for the Melbourne spring carnival.The John Thompson-trained Mother's Milk

Trainer John Wheeler believes this year's Group One Queensland Derby at Eagle Farm could unveil a future star.

Wheeler, who will saddle up Keyora, rates Saturday's 2400-metre feature as the strongest Queensland Derby line-up he's seen despite the scratching of the Bart Cummings-trained Landlord.

Landlord was ruled out on Friday with a bruised foot but Cummings' stable foreman Reg Fleming expects the three-year-old to be back for the Melbourne spring carnival.

The John Thompson-trained Mother's Milk, who was first emergency, has also been withdrawn with a minor leg injury paving the way for Bevan Laming's second emergency Face The Front to sneak into the Derby.

Face The Front failed in the Group Three Rough Habit Plate at Doomben in mid-May before finishing fifth to Fieldmaster in a midweek three-year-old race over 2240 metres nine days ago.

Wheeler first came to Brisbane almost three decades ago and in that time has won a host of feature races, including three Doomben Cups and two Stradbroke Handicaps with Rough Habit who also gave him his first Queensland Derby before landing his second with Court Ruler last year.

Wheeler paid a $13,750 late entry to start Keyora who will be ridden by Hugh Bowman.

The son of Bachelor Duke has won three of his 15 starts and is coming off a last-start sixth to Victorian Kutchinsky in the Group Three Grand Prix Stakes (2200m) at Doomben two weeks ago.

"I first came to Brisbane in 1981 and this field is the best I've seen," Wheeler said.

"It's a very strong field but there's no standout with seven or eight chances."

Wheeler includes Keyora among the Derby hopes but would be more confident on a rain-affected track.

"I'd be very confident with Keyora if we got some rain," Wheeler said.

"I was a lot more confident before last year's Derby with Court Ruler than I am with Keyora but that would change if the track was wet."

Wheeler didn't need to be told fine weather was predicted for Derby day after playing golf on Thursday.

"It was quite cold playing golf yesterday and too cold for it to rain, unfortunately," he said.

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

"It was his first run here and he went from a 1400-metre race to 2200 metres," he said.

"He got a few bumps and was forced to change ground a couple of times in the straight so we didn't get much of a guide on him for the Derby.

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

"He's still a good chance on a dry track but Dariana is the one I'm worried about.

"If she gets away she's a huge chance. Her work on Tuesday morning was super."

Wheeler also has a good opinion of fellow Kiwi The Hombre who could book a Cox Plate campaign in Melbourne if successful.

Cummings is trying to claim his third Queensland Derby with Dariana and Brightnight.

The 12-time Melbourne Cup-winning trainer last won the Queensland Derby with Empires Choice, who survived a protest to win in 2007, and had his initial success with Bottled Sunshine in 1975.