For the first time in four starts Absent Friends will not jump from the outside barrier when he lines up in the Group Three Premier's Cup at Doomben on Saturday.The four-year-old has barrier eight in the 15-horse field for the 2200-metre race, ending a frustrating run for trainer Gary Portelli who is hoping Absent Friends gets a start in the Group Two Brisbane Cup (2400m) on June 6."We took him up there to get ready for the Cup and he would probably have to win this to get a run," Portelli said.

For the first time in four starts Absent Friends will not jump from the outside barrier when he lines up in the Group Three Premier's Cup at Doomben on Saturday.

The four-year-old has barrier eight in the 15-horse field for the 2200-metre race, ending a frustrating run for trainer Gary Portelli who is hoping Absent Friends gets a start in the Group Two Brisbane Cup (2400m) on June 6.

"We took him up there to get ready for the Cup and he would probably have to win this to get a run," Portelli said.

"He's had the outside gate in his last three starts, so he's been due for a change of luck."

Absent Friends made up plenty of ground last start when 1-1/4 lengths fourth to Ballack in the Group Three Chairman's Handicap (2020m) at Doomben on May 9 with Jim Byrne aboard.

Byrne has retained the ride.

"He had to go too far back from that barrier (15) the other day but he did a great job to finish where he did after covering plenty of ground," Portelli said.

Torrential rain in Brisbane this week will ensure the track is heavy, a surface Absent Friends finished third on at Rosehill three starts back in the Neville Sellwood Stakes (2000m) early last month.

"He can handle the going and was very unlucky on Slipper day in the Sellwood where he got blocked for a run," Portelli said.

Meanwhile, Gai Waterhouse elected not to float Montana Flyer to Queensland on Thursday because of the rain.

Last year's Group Two Roman Consul Stakes winner was nominated for Saturday's Gunsynd Handicap (1200m) at Doomben.

She will instead run in a 1200-metre race at Rosehill on Saturday week.

Montana Flyer will then head to Brisbane for either the Listed Gai Waterhouse Classic at Ipswich or the Group One Winter Stakes at Eagle Farm.

The Gai Waterhouse Classic (1350m) is on June 13 while the Winter Stakes (1400m) is a week later.