Boundless is almost certain to tackle the AJC Oaks, but trainer Stephen McKee wants today to check a few points with air transport operators.
"The EI issue is not the problem, but the backlog of horses on flights back to New Zealand.
"I have only heard this secondhand, but I have been told the backlog could be massive.
"I need to check that out."
Boundless could not have been more impressive running away from a field of older, hardened stayers at Ellerslie on Saturday. They might not have been the best stayers around, but 3-year-old fillies rarely do what she achieved.
"She blew up badly after the race because I hadn't done a lot with her after she won the Oaks at Trentham last month."
The AJC Oaks looks like being a strong line-up this year - Saturday's impressive South Australian Derby winner Zarita is heading to Sydney for the race.
But the advantage Boundless will have over the fillies from Melbourne will be her experience at right-handed racing.
You can see where Mark Wyborn is coming from He's owned around 60 horses, won nearly as many races, but has yet to achieve his goal - winning a stakes race.
The Auckland property investor came as close as you can to that in winning Saturday's Listed Network Visuals Champagne Stakes with Sufficient.
Asked what he'd like to win, Wyborn said: "The Derby."
Which Derby? "Any Derby."
In Sufficient he might have the material to do just that. The Zabeel-Fleur de Chine colt was the steal of the 2007 Karaka sale at $120,000. He's a magnificent type who looks as though he will further furnish at three.
Leith Innes rode a positive race, taking Sufficient to the front when he found himself parked outside the lead at the 1100m and dictated the race afterwards.
Taranaki filly Juice, in her first attempt at right-handed racing, finished strongly from the back of the small field for second.
