The jockeys to follow at Christmas at the Races

Tina Comignaghi is the leading South Island jockey this season with 30 wins and is sixth in the national premiership. She has rated Vague as her best ride at Ascot Park.

The Hangover (Kylie Williams) is a top prospect for the Group ILT Handicap at Ascot Park on Saturday. Photo: JAMIE SEARLE

Canterbury jockeys Tina Comignaghi and Kylie Williams will be hoping the success they had at the Southland Racing Club's Christmas meeting in the past continues tomorrow (Saturday).

Both have rides in all eight races at Ascot Park, with the first starting at 12.25pm and the last at 4.37pm.

At the Christmas meeting last year Comignaghi rode three winners, while in 2021 Williams had four wins.

Comignaghi is the leading South Island jockey this season with 30 wins and is sixth in the national premiership. On Thursday, she rated Vague as her best ride at Ascot Park.

"Probably Vague, if the track stays soft," she said.

Jockey Tina Comignaghi brings Vague back to the birdcage after winning at Gore in October. The combination team up again at Ascot Park on Saturday. Photo: JAMIE SEARLE

Four of Vague's seven wins have been on soft or heavy tracks for Timaru trainer Leonard Stewart. The 8-year-old mare is in good form for the Tim Yeo Contracting Southland Crystals, with placings in her past two starts.

Williams, who brought up her 900th win recently, thought The Hangover was her best chance on Saturday.

The Hangover has raced twice for an easy debut win at Gore on October 25 and a gutsy second in strong company at the New Zealand Cup meeting in Christchurch 18 days later.

Interestingly, Williams thought up the race name of The Hangover when the gelding's owner-trainers, the Dennis brothers, of Woodlands, were looking for one. The Hangover's mother's race name was The Barmaid.  

Williams rides last-start winner Divine Regulus in race one, the Howley Joinery Handicap.

Divine Regulus raced in Australia and Hong Kong before joining Nikki and Barrie Blatch's Tapanui stable earlier in the year.

Nikki is happy with his progress since winning at the NZ Cup meeting last month. 

"He's got a good draw [on Saturday], a good rider and he's working well," she said.

Divine Regulus (Lisa Allpress) wins impressively at the New Zealand Cup meeting in Christchurch in November. He will be ridden by Kylie Williams in race one, the Howley Joinery Handicap, at Ascot Park on Saturday. Photo: Ajay Berry (Race Images).

However, occasionally Divine Regulus can be a bit tricky in the starting gates and miss the start.

The Blatches gained a win with Candidate in the first race at the Christmas meeting last year, Candidate is returning this year to compete in race eight, The Edge Handicap.

"He's drawn the outside barrier and that will make it a tough ask for him," Nikki said.

Tina Comignaghi is booked to ride Candidate.