Trainer Stuart Kendrick has high opinion of unraced filly Runway Angel

STUART Kendrick has aborted Melbourne Carnival plans for his mare Doubtfilly but has a big opinion of an unraced two-year-old at Eagle Farm today.

Trainer Stuart Kendrick with stable star Doubtfilly. He has high hopes for unraced 2Y0 Runway Angel.

TRAINER Stuart Kendrick has aborted Melbourne Spring Carnival plans for his mare Doubtfilly but has a big opinion of an unraced two-year-old at Eagle Farm today.

The Sunshine Coast trainer had planned to race Doubtfilly down the 1200m Flemington straight on Melbourne Cup day but she returned from the paddock 40kg heavier than expected.

While Doubtfilly will now be set for feature sprints over the Brisbane summer series, Kendrick will unleash highly promising Runway Angel in the 2YO Fillies Handicap (1000m) at Eagle Farm today.

The filly has come up favourite in early markets, due to her dominant performance this week in a Sunshine Coast trial which she won by 11.8 lengths.

Kendrick feels his filly may have been flattered by the booming trial romp but has no doubt she has a lot of ability and will have the race smarts to win today.

"She probably went a little bit harder in the trial than what we wanted her to go," Kendrick said.

"The way the trial turned out made her look a little bit more impressive than what it was, with a couple of the others dropping out.

"She had three in front of her in the trial and she went around them, hit the lead at the top of the straight and went away from them.

"She is fairly sensible and from what she has showed on the track, there is no reason she shouldn't be able to settle in her races and finish off."

Kendrick, who moved down from Mackay in February, purchased Runway Angel at the Brisbane Bloodstock Sales before syndicating the filly to a group of clients.

Chris Munce has been booked for the ride and Kendrick is confident, although he admits that having seven other unraced horses in the field makes it hard to be certain.

"On the way she trialled, you would be hoping she would bring that trial form into raceday," he said.

"But it is a little bit tricky because you don't know with these two-year-olds and there could be something really special there.

"I'm very happy with my filly, it's just a matter of what else is in the race."

Doubtfilly, which won the Ascot Handicap (1200m) at Eagle Farm in her last race start in July, trialled impressively during the week but Kendrick was not convinced about a Melbourne trip.

"We were looking at going to Melbourne but she did a little too well in the paddock and she put on about 40kg which is a lot of weight for her," he said.

"We would have had to go to Melbourne first-up down the straight over 1200m on Cup day. We have elected to keep her at home and target some of the feature sprints over the summer series."