The prospect of another clash with unbeaten filly Learning To Fly holds no fears for Kundalini’s trainer Ciaron Maher.
With four of the top six Golden Slipper fancies set to step out at Randwick, maiden Kundalini has yet to garner much attention.
But her trainer Ciaron Maher says he would not swap his filly for any other horse in Saturday’s Reisling Stakes (1200m), despite the Group 2 race being headlined by reigning Slipper favourite Learning To Fly.
The pair clashed last start in the Inglis Millennium with the Annabel Neasham-trained Learning To Fly relegating Kundalini to third and that form has already been franked with the second (Blanc De Blanc), fourth (Lazzago) and fifth (Facile) placegetters producing the trifecta in last weekend’s Sweet Embrace Stakes.
Maher has a healthy regard for Learning To Fly but is adamant his youngster is open to significant improvement.
“Obviously Annabel’s filly looks very good, but she (Kundalini) is very progressive,” Maher said.
“I wouldn’t swap her, put it that way, and she will improve again going into the weekend.
“It was a very good race the Inglis Millennium and it’s no surprise the form is holding up.”
Both two-year-old races on Saturday have attracted small but exciting fields
Along with Learning To Fly and Kundalini, Facile will back-up after her luckless second in the Sweet Embrace Stakes, while Mathkhoora, a daughter of 2014 Golden Slipper winner Mossfun, makes her debut for Team Hawkes.
Mathkhoora won a recent 900m trial at Rosehill in the fastest time of the session, running more than half a second quicker than stablemate and Group 1 Canterbury Stakes contender Remarque did in winning an earlier heat.
Five colts will tackle the Todman Stakes (1200m) but it is a select group boasting Golden Slipper second favourite Red Resistance, untapped youngster Café Millenium and seasoned Godolphin youngster Cylinder, all last-start winners.
