Karuta Queen will be shifted south to Melbourne this week after missing out on a crucial first up run in Sydney on Saturday.

Karuta Queen was the highest profile horse to be robbed of a start after the Warwick Farm meeting was canned due to surface water sitting on the track.

She was due to run against a small field where she not only was the short priced favourite to score an easy win but it was going to give her the fitness she needed going into the Group 2 Light Fingers Stakes.

Now though it looks like she won’t even contest that event with trainer Neville Layt forced to make a drastic change in program.

She’ll run in the Rubiton Stakes over 1100m at Caulfield this Saturday and then it could be on to Group 1 level in the Oakleigh Plate.

That would be a huge test for her given she’d face the high flying Sepoy as well as breakthrough sprinter Bel Sprinter, both horses only have one defeat to their name.

Layt says he’s disappointed to have to leave Sydney but he has little choice.

“We have only got the Expressway Stakes in Sydney, our other option is the Rubiton at weight for age, she will get in with the minimum and I think the Expressway will be a little strong over 1200m first-up,” Layt said.

“She was cherry ripe and ready to go (on Saturday) but it didn’t happen and now we go to Melbourne.”