Champion mare Orange Agent was meant to arrive in Christchurch from Auckland on Wednesday but did not get here until this morning.
Trainer Brian Hughes said the delays mean the horse's race preparation had been "less than ideal".
"But the mare is well travelled. "
Orange Agent is the red-hot favourite for the Group One PGG Wrightson New Zealand Breeders Stakes at Addington on Friday night. Her odds of winning a two to one, meaning a $10 bet would return $20.