Robbie Griffiths and Mathew de Kock had contemplated sending Aberfeldie Boy to Brisbane for a lead-up race to the Queensland Derby.
But the logistics of getting the three-year-old north did not suit, so instead Aberfeldie Boy will head to Adelaide for the Group 1 South Australian Derby (2500m) at Morphettville on Saturday.
While Aberfeldie Boy is a good traveller, he is not when forced to travel solo.
“He was going to be flying on his own this week and we didn’t want to fly him on his own,” de Kock said.
“He travels well, but he travels well in company, but anything he does on his own, when travelling in the van, he’s petrified.
“So, racing in Adelaide this weekend, he can come home then there is a flight to Queensland in two weeks’ time, on which he will have company.”
The Group 1 Queensland Derby (2400m) will be run at Eagle Farm two weeks after Saturday’s race.
Aberfeldie Boy showed his class in the spring with an unlucky fast finishing third in the Group 1 Victoria Derby (2500m) at Flemington.
A late decision to geld the three-year-old resulted in Aberfeldie Boy missing the Australian Derby at Randwick last month and he only resumed racing with a win at Pakenham on April 13.
He followed that up with a third-place finish behind D’Aguilar and White Marlin over 2000m at Pakenham two weeks later.
The trainers have never lacked confidence in Aberfeldie Boy and the gelding’s most recent run cemented that opinion.
And drawing gate 16 on Saturday has not swayed their confidence either.
“He settles towards the rear anyway,” de Kock said.
“It seems that track, Johnny Allen has been riding it magnificently, has been swooping, so it can be done.
“I would imagine being only his third run he can improve, but he’s fit enough to being close to his best.”
Stablemate Nightsun is the second emergency for Saturday’s contest and the stable would need a strong indication that the three-year-old was going to gain a start for him to travel to Adelaide.