In-form Comignaghi making up for lost time

Tina Comignaghi.
Tina Comignaghi.
Canterbury apprentice Tina Comignaghi's hot run of recent form is helping her make up for lost time.

The highly talented rider, who has one of the most unenviable injury records in racing, returned to the saddle late last month after four months out with a broken left wrist.

Comignaghi made up for that lost time by riding a treble of winners at last week's Gore meeting.

She then backed that effort up by winning the open sprint on Champions Day at Wingatui on Saturday when Tomm Jones nosed out stablemate Starvoia in a tight finish.

''I really like the horse and the owners, too. They deserve a win and beating Chris Johnson on the line, that is a great feeling,'' Comignaghi said.

''I have been really lucky, to be honest. So far, I have been on good horses and they are running for me.''

The rider's latest injury was another setback in a horror run of problems Comignaghi has endured with her wrists.

In 2011, the jockey broke her right wrist which gave her problems for the next two years and required a complete reconstruction to heal properly.

Perhaps the cruellest part of her latest setback is that the fracture came far from the racetrack.

''This injury was just from playing football with some friends, so it was just bad luck, I think,'' Comignaghi said.

''It was just over four months. I had my surgery at the beginning of October and spent four months in a cast and then started work again at the first week of January.''

Comignaghi admits her injury setbacks have made her ponder her future in the saddle at times, but employer Karen Parsons pushes her to fulfil her potential.

''I love racing and I really enjoy it, but it does put me off a bit the fact that I get injured a lot.''

''I always keep saying this is the last injury, but I keep coming back.''

''Karen Parsons always keeps me up and makes me want to do it and pushes me forward.''

Comignaghi has three rides at Invercargill today, all for the John and Karen Parsons stable.

She rates Metasequoia in race 1, Tussock in race 5 and Lizzie Bordon in race 7 as solid chances.

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