Problem mare finally puts a win on the board

Cambridge trainer Emma-Lee Browne was more than a little relieved after her promising stayer Nigelissima finally broke through for the second win of her career when she took out the opening race on the card at Te Rapa on Saturday.

The four-year-old daughter of Pentire had shown any amount of ability in her first preparation as a three-year-old that included a victory in the Listed Championship Stakes Prelude (2000m) at Ellerslie before a game run for 5th behind Puccini in the Gr. 2 Avondale Guineas.

Since then the mare has endured a frustrating run of injuries and issues that has given Browne and training partner (and father) Jeff McVean any number of headaches.

“She has had a really tough time with injuries since she ran in the Avondale Guineas which has limited just how many runs we could give her,” noted Browne.

“Every time we thought we had her right something else would flare up so it has been very frustrating.

“It’s pleasing to see her get another win as when she is fully fit she is a handy mare and I think she has the ability to go to higher levels next season if we can keep her injury free.”

The application of blinkers was another key to Saturday’s victory after the mare finished second wearing side winkers in her most recent start.

“The side winkers definitely helped her concentrate last time as she has the habit of switching on and off in her races,” said Browne.

“We changed that to blinkers for this run and they worked even better. It was also a lovely ride by Mark (du Plessis) as he put her in the right place during the run and got her trucking just when he needed to.”

An aversion to wet tracks will most likely see Nigelissima sent to the spelling paddock where she will join stablemate Blizzard who headed there after finishing well back in the Gr. 1 Auckland Cup last month.

“I don’t think there is much more for her this time in as she doesn’t handle the winter tracks so I would think she will head to the paddock now,” said Browne.

“Blizzard is also enjoying himself in the spelling paddock after doing a super job during his campaign. He will come back in at the beginning of June and we’d like to follow a similar programme to last year with him.”

Blizzard won three of his eight starts during his summer campaign along with finishing fourth in the Gr. 3 New Zealand Cup at Riccarton.