This may be a better analogy:  The Tortoise and the Hare - the Hare thought it was in the bag, so he took his ease thinking it would be easy and in the bag - then something (didn't) happen and he realized he had wasted too much time and couldn't catch back up.

Maybe too many eggs were in the prospect One and Two basket.

Then there's the law of unintended consequences - with unrest and supply diruption likely to drive a frothier market, perhaps 'prospects' 3,4,5, etc., will have a renewed sense of urgency.