Winona voices hope for August race return

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.

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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.