Racing: Trainer wary about filly's first-up chances at Rotorua

Hello M'Lady (right) likes the softer tracks. Photo / Race Images

Hello M'Lady has the right form lines to suggest a successful return to racing at Rotorua today.

The talented filly is a multiple black type placegetter and resumes against softer opposition in the New Zealand Bloodstock Insurance Pearl Series Race.

However, once bitten and twice shy trainer and part-owner Vicky Prendergast is wary of the three-year-old's prospects.

"We've dropped her back to a midweek maiden race before and got beaten by Jon Snow so you never know," she said.

"I'm a bit nervous about her not having started for a while. She's still a little bit fat, but she has been galloping beautifully and I'm happy enough with her.

"She's twice as strong as she was last time and she looks like a racehorse now. She's never really let us down and she's been unlucky a few times as well."

Hello M'Lady finished third in the Wanganui Guineas earlier this season and runner-up in the group three Bonecrusher Stakes.

The daughter of Shocking was also an unlucky fifth in the Wellington Stakes before a break and was turned out again after an unplaced run in January on a firm track.

"We thought we would give it a go and see if she coped with a firm track, but she's just not a summer horse," Prendergast said.

"She likes the cooler weather and the softer tracks.

"She's buzzing around at the moment and seems really happy."

- NZ Racing Desk