‘I could barely speak a sentence or stay awake’: Winona’s incredible Group 1 shot following concussion battle

Jockey Winona Costin once had shocking concussion symptoms from being knocked out three times, but has rebuilt her career and now has a golden chance to soar into racing’s Group 1 club at Randwick on Saturday.

Winona Costin has been through hell and back but has come out on the other side of shocking concussion symptoms to get her mojo back and be poised to snare one of racing’s biggest prizes at Randwick on Saturday.

Several years ago the talented young Sydney rider was knocked out cold three times in race or trial falls in an incredibly worrying period where she struggled to speak, kept falling asleep and lost almost all memory.

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As she prepares to ride leading Epsom Handicap contender Major Beel ($10) for Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, the 29-year-old jockey reflected on how fortunate she has been to come through the other side of concussion hell and have a golden chance to break into racing’s Group 1 club.

“I struggled with everything. I was so tired all the time, I could barely stay awake,” Costin told Racenet.

“My memory was shocking, I would just ask the same questions over and over again.

“I could barely speak a sentence, I would just stutter so much.

“I would be talking to somebody and I would just forget what I was even doing.

“Wherever there were bright lights, I couldn’t even see.

Winona Costin has a golden chance to join racing’s Group 1 club at Randwick on Saturday. Picture: Getty Images

“When I talk about that period of time, everything is just such a fog.

“A lot of it is me just recalling what other people have told me.

“At one point, I was never going to be able to ride again.

“And then when I came back, I struggled so much initially to get back to riding how I was.

“I ended up being able to get my mojo back.

“It’s been a long road, but it’s an awesome feeling to have the opportunity to ride in these big races.”

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Costin will also ride Strathtay ($26) for Chris Waller in The Metropolitan, giving her two chances to score Group 1s on one of racing’s biggest days.

She says she is now happy and healthy – although admits she sometimes struggles with her long-term memory.

Regardless, it is an incredible comeback from how she battled with severe impacts of concussion.

“It was a tricky one because there was a time when I kept passing the cognitive test even though my brain wasn’t working quite right,” Costin reflected.

“I was obviously always determined to get straight back to work.

“I would go in and pass the cognitive test – my boss at the time Peter Snowden ended up standing me down for a week at one point and my Mum never thought I would be able to pass the cognitive test because of how bad I was.

“Eventually they just stood me down altogether and I was out of the saddle for six months.

“When I was coming back to the races, Mum asked me if I was OK and I said I wasn’t 100 per cent right but I thought I was as good as I was going to get.

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“Then I had a fall a few days later from a horse bucking and I broke both my arms and it sent me off for another six months and it was the best thing that ever happened.”

Winona Costin. Picture: Getty Images

Costin has had 11 rides in Group 1 races and so far been unable to crack a win, although she finished third in the 2020 Epsom when she rode $16 chance Riodini.

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It was also a huge thrill last year when she partnered $101 chance Bois D’Argent in the Caulfield Cup and finished fourth behind winner and subsequent Melbourne Cup champion Without A Fight.

“But this (Major Beel) would be one of my best chances to strike in a Group 1 and I can’t wait,” Costin said.

“I am so grateful for opportunities from a lot of stables and particularly grateful for the support of Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott.

“I will keep my fingers crossed that I can win a Group 1 and I am hoping it is on Saturday.

“My biggest dream has always been to get a ride in a Melbourne Cup and I can obviously ride at a light weight so I am crossing my fingers on that front too.”

Originally published as ‘I could barely speak a sentence or stay awake’: Winona’s incredible Group 1 shot following concussion battle