Young NSW jockey Winona Costin is on track for a return to racing by the end of August as she recovers from another serious injury.
Sydney’s 2014/15 champion apprentice has only ridden three days in the past nine months after breaking both arms in March three days into her return from a long lay-off with concussion issues.
Costin has been riding trackwork for the past month but will take a small break next week following surgery to remove two plates and seven screws in her left arm.
“It’ll be a shame to be out of the saddle for another two weeks but at least it’ll be a bit closer (to a racing return),” Costin told Sky Sports Radio.
“I’ve had a lot of race falls but I don’t usually break bones. I usually get knocked out.
“I was a bit more thankful I didn’t get knocked out … because I wasn’t good after the last time.”
Costin spent five months on the sidelines after falling at barrier trials in October at Kembla Grange.
It followed several falls earlier in 2016 that destroyed any hopes she had of winning back-to-back NSW apprentice premierships.
COSTLY COSTIN FALLS
* February 21, 2016 – Left concussed and out of racing for nine days after a four-horse fall at Canberra
* April 15, 2016 – Another concussion at Grafton sidelines Costin for a month
* June 2, 2016 – Spends three weeks out after colt Hayman stands on the young jockey’s leg which required surgery
* October 12, 2016 – Knocked out after being dumped in barrier trials at Kembla. A visit to a Melbourne neurologist illustrates the seriousness of the concussion and she doesn’t return until March.
* March 12, 2017 – On just her third day back racing, Costin breaks both arms, including both bones in her left forearm, when her mount bucks during a race at Wellington.
