New Zealand jockey Winona Costin to continue family tradition in the Melbourne

Winona Costin will ride in the Melbourne Cup for the first time but the Sydney-based, New Zealand expat has deep – and successful – family links to the race.

Winona Costin was born to ride in a Melbourne Cup.

A birthday “around Melbourne Cup time” aside, Sydney-based, New Zealand expat Costin has deep – and successful – family links to the race that stops a nation at Flemington.

Paternal great grandfather Larry Wiggins was runner-up in 1951 Melbourne Cup on Akbar, while maternal great grandfather Jack Wood trained third-placed Captain Peri in 1974.

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A cousin’s father, the late Toby Autridge, finished second as a 16-year-old on Dandeleithin in the 1978 Melbourne Cup.

Costin will ride Positivity in the Melbourne Cup on Tuesday for Kiwi trainer Andrew Forsman.

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“It’s a childhood dream come true, everything about it is so special,” Costin said.

“I’m born around Melbourne Cup time, a lot of family history in it as well, it’s a very important race to me.

“We haven’t been fortunate enough to win it yet (family connections) … hopefully I can go a bit better than them.

“I won’t settle for second and third, I just want the win out there.”

Winona Costin will take her first ride in the Melbourne Cup on Tuesday. Picture: Vince Caligiuri/Getty Images

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Positivity is $101 with Ladbrokes for the Cup.

Costin rode in the Caulfield Cup last year for the first time and finished fourth on a $101 shot.

“It just shows big prices don’t matter in these sort of races sometimes,” Costin said.

“If you get the right run and have all the luck you’re going to be in the finish.

“She’s a nice staying horse, I was very impressed with her run a couple starts ago when she kept staying to the line … distance won’t be a problem for her at all.

“She’s got a really good demeanour about her and I think she’s just on song.”

Originally published as New Zealand jockey Winona Costin to continue family tradition in the Melbourne