Teighan Worsnop continues to take advantage of limited opportunities, riding winners at Wagga and Tumbarumba last month.
Riding for Peter Maher at Wagga on January 16, the two-kilogram claimer gave the 40/1 chance Broadside Armour a terrific ride in the 1200m Benchmark 66 Handicap.
“That was a really good win for me,” Worsnop said.
“He is an older horse, but he’s in form, and we got the soft track, and we wanted to be wider, and I was able to give him every chance possible.”
At Tumbarumba on Saturday, Worsnop teamed up with Jindabyne trainer Kevin Byrne and won on old stager Force Awakens in the 1020m Benchmark 45 Handicap.
It was a good ride, with Worsnop forced to take some cover before following the rails and sneaking through for a good victory.
“I won the same race last year on Andrew Dale’s horse (Lotus Land), and I thought it was a good win because Zara (Castellaz-Faico) fell in that race, and we had to go back and lose a couple of lengths, and I thought that was a good win,” Worsnop said.
“Then on Saturday, to win the race again on Force Awakens was quite cool.”
Despite riding winners, opportunities have been few and far between for the 23-year-old.
Originally a barrel racer, the local product grew up in Gundagai and Tumut, attending Tumut High School before moving to Albury to work with her pop, Garry Worsnop.
Since kicking off her career with a victory on Full Circle at Hillston in 2021, Worsnop has won 38 races, enjoying success with her pop, Garry, and popular Southern Districts galloper, Tough James, with whom she has won five times.
Worsnop has also enjoyed a good association with Paul McVicar, Maree Hopkins, Kym Davison, and the late Phil Sweeney.
The youngster said a competitive group of apprentices and the fact that she rides at a 55kg minimum meant she sometimes had her back against the wall.
“It’s really hard at the moment,” Worsnop said.
“There are that many jockeys about, and the only rides you get are what you ride for trackwork, so I’m pretty limited.
“Plus, it doesn’t help that my minimum is 55kg, and if trainers can put a professional or an apprentice on at 55kg, they will use the senior rider, which is understandable.”
It’s not for lack of trying for Worsnop, who drives from Holbrook to Wodonga at least six days a week to ride work before heading back across the border to Albury and riding out her morning commitments.
“I get up at 4 am every morning, and before I ride at Albury, I ride for Peter Maher and David O’Prey at Wodonga, and it’s a good little place, and I can ride six or seven a morning,” Worsnop said.
“Then I’m back to Albury to ride for Kym Davison and Pop (Garry Worsnop), and overall, I’m riding ten or more a morning.
“I’ve got 38 wins, and I love riding and love racing, and that’s what I want to do, but it’s a hard sport no matter what.”
The young hoop is maintaining a glass-half-full mindset and only wants to get better and keep riding winners in the hope of landing more opportunities.
“If you focus on how hard it is, you’re never going to climb that mountain, so I just need to keep pushing,” Worsnop said.
“I wouldn’t say I am riding to the best of my capabilities, but I’m working on it and always trying to be better because there is always something you can improve in racing.”
Worsnop had another chance to show her worth at Albury on Thursday (yesterday), where she teamed up with the John and Chris Ledger-trained Schiller Salute in the 900m Maiden Plate and the Peter Maher-trained Kaphands in the 1000m Class Two Handicap.
