Jockey Winona Costin has a long family association with the Melbourne Cup.
One of four female jockeys riding in Australia’s greatest race at Flemington on Tuesday, Costin is hoping to break the families ‘duck’ in the 3200m handicap.
Costin’s great-grandfather on her father’s side Larry Wiggins rode Akbar into second place in the 1951 Cup.
On the other side of the family her great grandfather Jack Wood prepared Captain Peri to run third behind Think Big in the 1974 edition, while in 1978, her uncle Toby Autridge, was a close second on Dandaleith behind Arwon.
“There is a bit of family history around it, so hopefully I can go a bit better than them,” Costin said.
Costin rides Positivity for Andrew Forsman, a mare she was supposed to partner in the Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) on October 19 before the mare was withdrawn.
Positivity has since finished eighth in the Moonee Valley Cup on October 25.
Costin said it was a childhood dream to ride in the Melbourne Cup with the family history while she celebrated her 29th birthday on Victoria Derby Day.
“It’s a childhood dream come true. Everything about it is so special,” Costin said.
“I was born around Melbourne Cup time and there’s a lot of family history in it as well.
“It’s a very important race for me.”
Costin first remembers the Melbourne Cup during the Makybe Diva years of 2003, ’04 and ’05 when she would rush home from school to watch the race.
“She was such a superstar mare and with my birthday being around Melbourne Cup time, it’s always been a big part of it,” Costin said.
Being able to ride light, Positivity has 50kg on Tuesday, put Costin in the mix for Tuesday’s ride, as did her association with Forsman when she rode in Victoria late last year.
Since Saturday night’s barrier draw, Costin has run the race in her mind a couple of times and was planning to walk the Flemington course on Monday and again on Tuesday.
Costin said she planned to ride trackwork on Tuesday morning to keep the nerves in check and then head home for a rest, before arriving on course around two hours before the big event.
“She’s a lovely staying mare and I was impressed with her run a couple of starts ago when she kept working to the line,” Costin said.
“I don’t think the distance will be a drama for her at all. She’s got a good demeanour about her, and I think she’s on song.”