Tony Gollan is in Melbourne but his spring carnival hopeful Most Important is stuck in Brisbane after the flight from the Sunshine State was cancelled on Wednesday night.
Brisbane trainer Gollan has high hopes for his summer star, who is due to run in Saturday's Listed Regal Roller Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield where he is a $13 chance with Sportsbet.
But first the gelding who is owned by Linda Huddy, who raced Australian Derby winner Shoot Out and multiple Group I winner Preferment, must get to Melbourne.
"I flew to Melbourne but the plane which was going to take my horse to Melbourne broke down and the flight had to be cancelled," Gollan said.
"I'm confident of getting him on a flight on Thursday night, so fingers crossed.
"But at the moment I'm in Melbourne and my horse is in Brisbane."
Most Important has indeed been an important horse for Gollan.
As a two-year-old, Most Important won on the Sunshine Coast and the victory enabled Gollan to equal the late Bruce McLachlan's long-standing record for the most metropolitan winners in a Brisbane season.
Then last summer Most Important turned from a boy to a man and collected a $500,000 summer crown bonus for a trio of consecutive wins.
Most Important earned a spot in the millionaire's club after winning the Group III George Moore Stakes, the Listed Lough Neagh Stakes and the Buffering Handicap in Brisbane.
So how will the summer star stack up in Melbourne?
"I am on a bit of a fact-finding mission with him, just to see where he sits," Gollan said.
"He is probably a Listed level horse, maybe up to Group II, and he is a real trier who I think can win races in Melbourne.
"There are a heap of options for him for the spring, including potentially the Bobbie Lewis (1200m) next month.
"If arrives in Melbourne in time for Saturday, I think the run will clean him out a bit and do him the world of good.
"I think he will get a lovely run in the race, possibly one-out, one-back, and he will certainly be competitive.
"But I wouldn't be surprised if he blows out a little late in the race."
As usual, Gollan has a big team of runners engaged at Doomben on Saturday and he says he is particularly looking forward to watching former Kiwi mare Khalama in the Chemist Warehouse Class Six Plate (1200m).
Khalama has won her last two for Gollan and he thinks she is well above average.
"She is a real x-factor horse and I am looking forward to seeing what level she can get to," Gollan said.
