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.

Advertisement
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...
NZ Derby Hero Willydoit Primed for Epsom
Last season’s New Zealand Derby hero Willydoit will step back into the spotlight on Saturday when he contests the Gr.1 Epsom Handicap (1600m) at Randwick for trainer Ciaron Maher, with jockey Tommy Berry bullish the horse is ready to make his mark over the famous mile.
One to Watch – Geelong
Trilogy Racing will have high hopes for the their talented filly Queen of Clubs in the Group I ATC Flight Stakes on Saturday and their colours were in the frame at Geelong on Thursday carried by a Zoustar filly that saluted on debut.
New SW Wrote - Fast Network Wins G3 National Day Cup
Trainer Dennis Yip claimed a timely first win of the 2025/26 season, taking out the feature HK$4.2 million Gr.3 National Day Cup Handicap (1000m) at Sha Tin’s National Day fixture on Wednesday when his stable star Fast Network, a New Zealand bred son of Wrote, blitzed a strong field under Alexis Badel.
Milan Park Experience Highs and Lows
Tony Rider experienced the extreme highs and lows of breeding thoroughbreds within a matter of hours on Wednesday.
Juvenile Trial Watch – Caulfield
Three barrier trials at Caulfield on Thursday morning produced heat winners for first season sires Wild Ruler and Profiteer with the quickest winner being Free Flying, the half-sister by Snitzel to brilliant Group winning mare Learning to Fly.
Generation Foals Built for Speed
Victorian farm Lovatsville offer a diverse stallion roster for this spring geared to satisfy a wide spectrum of breeder ambitions and if explosive Aussie speed is your thing then Snitzel stallion Generation will fit the bill.
Inglis Ready2Race breeze up footage NOW AVAILABLE ONLINE
Progeny of the likes of Toronado, Exceed and Excel, Harry Angel, Zoustar and Ole Kirk were amongst the standout performers from breeze up sessions conducted this week in the lead up to the Inglis Ready2Race Sale on October 16, footage of which is now available online.
Melody Belle Daughter Set for Long Awaited Debut
It will be a full-circle moment for Te Akau Racing at The Valley on Friday night when Lyrics ‘N’ Song, a daughter of their former multiple Group One winner Melody Belle, makes her debut.
Sires With Winners - Thursday October 2
Here is the full list of 29 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Blueblood Fillies From $3million Mares
Tom Magnier has been notable for his purchase of elite race fillies and broodmares in recent years to enhance the stellar Coolmore broodmare band and two of his $3million plus mare purchases have produced stunning fillies this spring.