Jockey Winona Costin has come back from several concussions and broken bones so the irritation caused by Ronstar’s bowed spine is just a minor impediment.
The 23-year-old has a high threshold for pain, and high hopes for the two-year-old who will attempt to stay unbeaten in the Spring Carnival On Sale Monday Handicap (1200m) at Rosehill on Saturday.
Costin saluted on the Gary Portelli-trained gelding after the Abercorn Hall Of Fame Handicap (1200m) at Rosehill on May 19, and although Ronstar puts pressure on her hips she is happy to grin and bear the discomfort.
“He’s not a difficult ride, he’s just a bit awkward to sit on. When he’s in the run he’s not too bad,” she said.
Ronstar’s regular track rider, Costin was well aware of his tricky configuration before his winning debut.
“It’s the first time I’ve been on a swayback horse,” Costin said.
“When I’m sitting down I sit at a different angle and it hurts my hips a little bit, but you get used to it.”
Costin uses her smallest saddle on Ronstar to fit the contours of his spine.
“I used a lot of packing so I could sit up and it worked better than you’d expect,” she said.
Sydney’s premier apprentice in 2014/15, Costin spent much of 2016 sidelined with concussion after several falls.
After eventually being cleared to ride, Costin snapped both wrists three days into her comeback when she fell in the Wellington Boot in March last year and was again sidelined.
“It’s been very slow to get back in town,” she said.
“I’ve been putting a lot of work into a few of Gary’s two-year-olds that are going to be nice three-year-olds. Hopefully they are what we expect them to be.”
Ronstar was the $5 second elect with the TAB on Thursday behind the Peter and Paul Snowden-trained Galina ($3.30) and Costin was confident he could challenge the favourite.
“He was really good the other day and he’s such a green horse he should hopefully take improvement from that,” she said.
