Melbourne contender stuck on tarmac in Brisbane

Ben Dorries - Thursday August 17

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.

Tony Gollan is hoping Most Important doesn't have to use this mode of flight to get from Brisbane to Melbourne

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.

Advertisment
More Reading...
$6million Frankel Mare Tops Fasig -Tipton November Sale
The Fasig-Tipton November Sale, billed as the World’s Premier Breeding Stock Event, was held Monday at the company’s Newtown Paddocks in Lexington, Kentucky. Twenty-five offerings sold for $1,000,000 or more, led by a trio of Grade/Group 1 winners with international appeal.
Kiwi Bred Gringotts Wins $3million Big Dance
Talented New Zealand-bred gelding Gringotts(NZ) (Per Incanto) delivered a big payday for his connections with victory in Tuesday’s A$3 million Big Dance (1600m) at Randwick.
El Vencedor wins G3 Balmerino Stakes
El Vencedor is making a habit of picking up major victories at Ellerslie, adding the Gr.3 Balmerino Stakes (2000m) to his burgeoning record at Tuesday’s Melbourne Cup Day meeting.
Sires With Winners - Tuesday November 5
Here is the full list of 145 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Knights Choice a True Underdog Story
Punters were left stunned when the Queenslander Knight's Choice and Japanese visitor Warp Speed (JPN) emerged from the pack to fight out a dramatic finish to the $8,560,000 Group 1 Lexus Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington.
All Too Hard's Arran Bay Brave in the Furphy Plate
Phillip Stokes admitted his preference was to run Arran Bay in the Listed John Letts Cup at Morphettville but was overruled by the owners, who made the correct decision in favouring the Listed Furphy Plate (1800m) at Flemington.
More Stakes Success for Air Assault
Group I placed last season in the SA Derby, talented gelding Air Assault kept the winning run going for Victoria Derby winning trainer Andrew Gluyas when taking out the Listed SAJC John Letts Cup (1800m) at Morphettville on Melbourne Cup Day.
Rosemont and Partners Stakes Quinella on Cup Day
Written Tycoon posted his second new stakes-winner on Melbourne Cup Day when promising three year-old gelding Catoggio took out the Listed VRC Amanda Elliot Stakes (1400m)  for Rosemont Stud and partners, who also race the second horse Bosustow.
2024 Melbourne Cup Result - It's Knights Choice
The 2024 Melbourne Cup has been run and won with Knight’s Choice, a five-year-old gelding by Extreme Choice victorious.
Kiwi Bred Grey Wins Subzero for OTI at Flemington
New Zealand-bred gelding Cloudland proved a handful for James McDonald at Flemington on Tuesday, but the champion jockey was in a forgiving mood after they had claimed top honours in the Subzero Handicap.