"There were six starters listed and in the end only two of us went around," said Court.
"And then they just dawdled. The winner went 3:11 for 2400m which is what the maiden trotters can go.
"So our fella paced about 3:7 for when we wanted him to have a 3:1 type hitout to bring him on for Saturday. It was disappointing really and I think it has affected our chances on Saturday."
The problem is exaggerated because Terror To Love will not have raced for 43 days come Saturday night, his longest break between races heading into a group one.
While he has a superb record when fresh with a break of at least 30 days between races - four wins from five starts - stepping up to 3200m off a 20m backmark against Adore Me a week after she smashed a national record is anything but ideal.
The TAB still have him the $1.70 favourite versus Adore Me's $2.10 in what should be a two-horse race but Court admits he wouldn't be surprised if the mare beat the three-time New Zealand Cup winner.
"She was amazing pacing the time she did last week and if she settles in front of us and goes as good again then he will need to be at his peak to beat her," he says bluntly.
"And even though our fella has been working well at home I don't think he can be at his peak after that trial was so slow. So we are definitely vulnerable this week."
The six-horse field with its disappointing support cast could ensure a tactical race, with the start crucial.
Whoever out of Adore Me (10m) and Terror To Love settles in front of the other probably has the option to head forward in the middle stages and wrest the lead, which would almost certainly be the winning of the race.
Terror To Love has never been a brilliant beginner but Adore Me has hardly seen the standing start tapes.
She was fast away from a 40m backmark, circumstances under which most horses tend to step safely, last Friday but back in the spring she showed a real aversion to standing starts.
Co-trainer Mark Purdon isn't concerned about that on Saturday night.
"She is a lot more mature than she was in the spring and when she blew her standing start race back then she was fresh-up and drawn the ace," says Purdon.
"I am not worried about it this week and if she can stay in front of Terror To Love that would help."
Victory on Saturday night would probably start Purdon aiming Adore Me toward November's New Zealand Cup in which she would almost certainly meet Terror To Love.
His connections confirmed last night he will bypass the stallion barn next season to concentrate on trying to become the first horse ever to win four New Zealand Trotting Cups.
