A month after the pair had a very public spat at Randwick trackwork, Costin preserved her 100 per cent strike rate since being accepted back into the Tulloch Lodge fold with a front-running gem on Mardi at Rosehill on Saturday.

"She's only a kid and she's still growing up," Waterhouse said. "I'm a bit of a strict taskmaster - but very fair - and I want her to do well. Most of them don't, most of them fail, but she has plenty of ability.

"Winona has got wonderful ability to judge speed in a race and she rode her a treat. That's how she should have been ridden the other day and that's how it should have won."

Having lamented Tommy Berry's ride on Mardi last start when Josh Parr pinched a mid-race break after whipping around the field on Nisroc and holding on to win, Waterhouse watched Costin make all the running on Mardi this time and held on to win by a neck from Adorabeel.

"My last two rides for her have been two winners so I couldn't be happier," Costin said. "We had a bit of a falling out, but about three days later everything was back to normal. Gai just said to keep her [Mardi] rolling and she was going to the line strongly.

"She jumped quite well, travelled pretty sweetly and pricked her ears the whole way and she can be a bit on the lazy side. But when they come up to her in the straight she really digs deep."

Baker a big McDonald fan

Bjorn Baker was only one trainer whose interest was spiked in James McDonald after the gun New Zealand rider and Hawkes Racing had a temporary split during the week.

"I'm happy to be his C, D, E, or F trainer .... that's what I said to him," Baker said after his Kiwi compatriot kicked home Coolring for the horse's third win on the bounce at Rosehill on Saturday.

"That's why I've had a bit of success lately, because I've got Bowman riding a bit, Shinn riding a bit, McDonald riding a bit and Avdulla rode Fuerza [on Friday] and that was as good as a ride as you will get."

Having been It's A Dundeel's rider for Baker's father Murray during his stallion-making career, Baker junior is now starting to cash in on last season's premiership winner as he took over from the suspended Hugh Bowman on Coolring.

And after tracking the early speed, McDonald drove the grey through a gap and just had enough petrol in the tank to thwart the fast finishing Timeless Prince and heavily backed Countryman.

"I wasn't very confident coming into today," Baker said. "It's worth thinking about [pushing on], but we'll probably put him out. I thought he was up against a lot of good horses today and at 1500 metres, but he's been a revelation this horse."

Condolences for Rice

Melbourne Racing Club chairman Mike Symons has offered his condolences to the family and friends of English-born track rider Lizz Rice, who died on Saturday after a trackwork fall on January 12.

"It is with great sadness and respect that I express my condolences and those of all at the Melbourne Racing Club to Lizz Rice's loved ones on their tragic loss," Symons said.

"I have huge admiration for the tremendous and at times undervalued contribution that our track riders make to the racing industry and the inherent risks that come the working with horses."

Rice, 26, sustained severe head and chest injuries from a fall near the swimming pool at Caulfield. Doctors told her family that medication keeping her alive would be withdrawn on Friday.

Clenton feels stewards' wrath

Apprentice Samantha Clenton fell foul of the stewards for the second time in 24 hours after being rubbed out for four meetings after an inquiry held over from Randwick last weekend.

Fellow three-kilogram claimer Taylor Marshall was forced to visit Rosehill to give evidence despite not having a ride on Saturday after his mount in the last, Agent Bauer, was checked when Clenton drifted in on Timeless Prince near the 800-metre mark.

She pleaded guilty to a careless riding charged and was banned for five meetings. Coupled with a suspension incurred at Warwick Farm on Friday, Clenton will be out of the saddle from February 8 to 26.