Stacey Dougan is confident Lil Mer can take another positive step toward a black type target when she runs at Otaki today.
The Opaki trainer is reaping the reward of her patience with the 4-year-old, who looks the horse to beat in the Rating 75 Mitavite NZ Handicap.
"She's hada little bit of a freshen-up since Te Rapa and I think she'll win it," Dougan said.
"She's got a mind of her own and has been hard work - even when you feed her she walks backwards. She's a madam, but she's a good one."
Lil Mer's spirited approach has also been evident on the racetrack and her form this year has been impressive. She finished runner-up at Awapuni and Wanganui before breaking her maiden at Trentham.
The daughter of Shinzig then followed up in Rating 65 company at Trentham, where she beat subsequent winners Mr Darcee's Gold and Running Late. At her latest appearance she was sixth behind the talented Kapsboy at Te Rapa.
"The jockey Thomas Russell apologised after he took the wrong option and hauled her back instead of going forward," Dougan said. "She had too much ground to make up on a day when they were winning off the front.
"She'll go to Hawke's Bay after this race and as long as she steps up there then we'll have a go at the fillies' and mares' race at Hawera, that's the plan."
The target event is for Lil Mer, whose third dam is the former New Zealand Horse of the Year La Mer, is the Rich Hill Stud Taranaki Breeders' Stakes over 1400m on October 12.
