Trainer Mick Price has revealed that he is not confident about the chances of Loveyamadly in the Listed Kensington Stakes (1000m) at Flemington on Saturday.

Loveyamadly will be having just the second start of her racing career at Flemington on Saturday when she contests the Kensington Stakes. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia

Loveyamadly has previously performed strongly at Group level, winning the Abell Stakes (1200m) earlier this year, but Price told Racing Ahead this morning that he has noticed a chance in the demeanor of the Bel Esprit mare.

The five-year-old started her summer campaign with a strong second place finish behind Vatican in the Listed Doveton Stakes (1000m) at Caulfield on December 7, but failed to fire and beat home just a single runner in the Listed Christmas Stakes (1200m) at the same venue on Boxing Day.

Price is hopeful that Loveyamadly can return to her best form this weekend although he admits that he has not particularly liked what he has seen out of the mare in trackwork since her Christmas Stakes flop.

“I reckon she is at the crossroads this prep,” Price said.

“I was happy with her first run, she ranged up, and we thought that was good, she just needed a bit of a run there.

“At Caulfield she felt the ground on a good three and she pulled up sore from that.

“Her form is great and she has been such a consistent mare, a stakes winning mare, but I think she seems to have lost a bit of interest.

“I can’t quiet put my finger on it; her blood pitcher is good and she is as free as she does get for that sort of mare.

“Certainly she is good enough to run in the first three, but I am just going in a bit cautious with her.

“Hopefully I am wrong, but I am just a bit wary with her at the moment.”

Loveyamadly has recorded six wins and missed the placings just twice in her 12 career starts and narrowly missed out on scoring her maiden win at Group level when she finished second in the Group 3 Bellmaine Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on February 9 last year.

Despite Price’s concerns, Loveyamadly is still rated a winning chance in Kensington Stakes betting markets and is currently available at odds of $8.50, behind last-start winner Kaiser Sun ($3.10), the resuming Pocket Rockets ($5.50) and Stephen Theodore-trained Don’t Get Excited ($6).