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It was a day of ups and downs for Cambridge couple Emma-Lee and David Browne at Awapuni on Saturday.

Their day started in grand fashion with handy mare Nigelissima providing evidence she will be a contender for major summer staying honours with a narrow but powerful victory over 2300 metres in the second race on the day. Maiden galloper White Diamond also performed with credit in running fourth in her first raceday start however it was stable star Blizzard who disappointed with a lacklustre performance to finish a well beaten eighth in the day’s feature, the Listed Feilding Cup.

Browne was philosophical about the day’s results, preferring to focus on the prospects for Nigelissima in the coming months.

“That was such a thrill to see her get a win as she has really turned the corner this season,” she said.

“Her last run for second was very good so we were hoping she could take the next step and she did just that.”

Browne was full of praise for rider Vinnie Colgan who produced a copybook effort to get the mare across the line in first place.

“Vinnie rides her really well and did a super job as he had her in a great spot during the race and brought her into it at exactly the right moment,” she said.

“She had to sprint hard to catch the leader and then outstayed him to the line which augurs well for where we would like to see her in this prep.”

Browne is keen for the mare force her way into contention for some of the feature staying events later in the summer with the Gr. 3 Waikato Cup in December a likely target.

“We think she can be very competitive in a race like the Waikato Cup if she can sneak in on a light weight,” she said.

“She goes really well at Te Rapa and has shown that distances around that 2400 metre mark are what suit her best.”

Browne was at a loss to explain the run of Blizzard who had been expected to be right in the fight in the main race on the day.

“He just never fired a shot did he,” she noted wryly.

“I do think the circumstances of the race were a little against him as he drew down on the fence and just couldn’t get out and rolling when he wanted to. He needs to roll into his races rather than sprint at them so we will just put it down to bad luck and move on from here.”