Winona Costin will continue her apprenticeship with Gai Waterhouse as the leading junior rider prepares to make a return to the races at Randwick on Saturday.
Costin’s booking for six rides ends speculation over the 19-year-old’s immediate future after her role at Tulloch Lodge was placed in doubt when she was stood down from stable duties late last month.
But after meeting with Racing NSW stewards last week, Costin has resolved her differences with the champion trainer.
She returned to work last Thursday and will be back at the races on Saturday after serving a double suspension for careless riding.
“Winona was back riding trackwork for the stable last Thursday,” her riding agent Anthony Haining said.
“She is back in the system.
“Everyone makes a mistake … it’s just how we handle it.”
Since linking with Waterhouse last year, Costin has established herself an apprentice with a bright future, earning several Group One rides for outside stables during the Sydney spring carnival.
And despite only one city victory during December, she is a clear-cut leader in the Sydney apprentice jockeys’ premiership, holding a double figure lead over Samantha Clenton.
Costin has four Randwick rides for David Payne, the Rosehill trainer who was tipped to become her new boss if she split permanently with Waterhouse.
Her best chance for Payne is likely to be Foreign Prince, a four-year-old she rode to two wins during the four-year-old’s purple patch of winter form.
Foreign Prince will resume in the TAB.com.au Handicap with 56kg after Costin’s 2kg claim.
Her other rides for Payne will be ATC Australian Derby aspirant Bomber Brown, two-year-old Queen’s Crown and Artistic Lass.
Rides on Pentometer for leading trainer Chris Waller and Single for Craig Carmody complete Costin’s Randwick book.
She is not expected to link with a Waterhouse runner until Thursday week’s provincial meeting at Wyong.
