Scarlett Lady took the first steps towards a Sydney autumn carnival campaign with victory in New Zealand on Monday, her first outing since injury ruled her out of the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups.

The mare won a 1600m race at the Waitangi Day public holiday meeting at Tauherenikau to get her career back on track.

Scarlett Lady was one of the leading spring Cups contenders but her mission ended when she had to have a bone chip removed from a leg, an injury believed to have happened in the Underwood Stakes in October.

Her Sydney owner Max Whitby was thrilled with her return and said he and co-trainer Graeme Rogerson had mapped out Group One missions for last year’s Queensland Oaks winner.

“It’s wonderful. I’m thrilled she’s back,” Whitby said.

“There’s a Group One race in New Zealand for her early next month and then the plan is to bring her to Sydney for the Ranvet and the BMW and then take her to Singapore for the Singapore Airlines International Cup in May.”

Whitby said both Rogerson and jockey James McDonald were rapt with her performance.

“James said she jumped better than she ever has which is an important thing for her,” he said.

“He said she was as good as ever.

“After Singapore she will have a break and then we’ll try to get her back to do all the things we wanted to do in the spring.”

A passionate owner and racegoer, Whitby was appointed to the board of the newly formed Australian Turf Club last year.

He and fellow director Bill Sweeney were due to finish their 12 month terms this week but Whitby said the pair would stay on for the time being as non voting board members pending a government decision on an extension of their directorships.