Hello M’Lady gets into that winning groove
‘‘We've always known she was pretty smart but it was getting a bit frustrating with all those placings.’’
Vicki Prendergast’s patience was wearing thin until recently, but now she’s all smiles as her talented filly Hello M’Lady has found the winning groove.
A month ago Hello M’Lady ended a run of minor placings between her and stablemate Battle Royal when she cleared maiden grade at Rotorua and on Saturday she was back at the same venue to add a $20,000 special conditions maiden race with the same impressive ease.
Hello M’Lady’s first 10 starts had produced four second placings and other close finishes in black type races such as the Bonecrusher Stakes (second), Wanganui Guineas (third), Great Northern Foal Stakes (fourth) and Wellington Stakes (fifth), while Battle Royal has finished second four times and third once.
‘‘This is a way better sport when you’re winning,’’ was Vicki’s first reaction after Hello M’Lady had scored on Saturday in the hands of Cameron Lammas. ‘‘We’ve always known she was pretty smart but it was getting a bit frustrating with all those placings.’’
Vicki has had a permit to train licence for two years, having decided to add that to her major activities with showjumpers and eventing horses when she and her husband Mike relocated from Manawaru to Matamata.
With the helpful assistance of local couple Hamish and Karyn McQuade, she has honed her thoroughbred conditioning skills and is now looking forward to working the talented daughter of Rich Hill Stud stallion Shocking through the grades.
‘‘I’d really like to get her rating points up and then maybe looks at a good race with her,’’ Vicki says.