Inset: Teighan Wornsop with the 2024 Tumut Cup.
Images: Jeff Hanson/NSW Country and Picnic Racing
Teighan Worsnop notched one of the more sentimental wins of her career on Saturday when riding Tough James to victory in the $19,000 Tumut Cup.
Riding for her pop, Garry Worsnop, in the 1400m feature, Teighan was thrilled to win her first hometown cup, and the crowd was equally as enthused, greeting Tough James with a big roar as the pair crossed the line in first.
In winning, the Albury-based pair held off the Garry Kirkup-trained Ferrari Girl (Teaghan Martin, $4.20) by a half-length, while in third and two lengths back was the Kym Davison-trained Daly Heads (Simon Miller, $3).
“I’m really happy to win it,” Worsnop told NSW Country and Picnic Racing after her win.
“I love Tumut; it’s my hometown, and I love to ride a winner here.”
The moment was made even more special because the 23-year-old won it for her pop when scoring her fifth victory on the Al Maher gelding.
“I’ve always wanted to win a cup, and I won the (2023) Carrathool Cup for the late Phil Sweeney, and now to get one for pop, and especially my hometown cup, they are two treasures that mean a lot to me.”
Tough James lived up to his name and worked hard from barrier four when following Ferrari Girl into the race.
Despite the Canberra galloper giving her rivals the slip on the tight-turning Tumut track, the Albury visitor chased down the runaway leader, finishing hard and fast for an impressive win.
“As he is getting older, he hasn’t got as much speed in his legs, and it is hard because he does like to over-race a bit,” Worsnop said.
“Still, it was firm today, so I gave him a good dig and tried to get him into a good spot, but I didn’t want to be caught three wide.
“I kept digging, and she (Teighan Martin) kept going on Ferrari Girl, so I sat just in behind them after they did all the work.
“My horse was just on the bit, so it was a speed battle, and at the corner, I thought we might have her, but she kicked again.
“Still, old James is tough, and he just keeps running and was able to run them down.”
Worsnop, who’s riding in good form following wins at Wagga and Tumbarumba in January, landed a winning double at Tumut on Saturday.
She had won earlier in the program when getting the John and Chris Ledger-trained Schiller Salute ($1.90) home in the 1000m Maiden Plate.
“It’s great that I’ve come to my hometown meeting and rode a double,” Worsnop said.
“I always ride well here, but I still only ended up with three rides out of six, but I’ve managed to make the most of it and had good horses with good trainers that have backed me.”
Garry Worsnop will back the Tumut Cup winner up at Albury on Sunday, with the in-form seven-year-old taking on the $35,000 Country Boosted Benchmark 58 Handicap (1400m).
Wornsop also has Just Like Liam entered in the same race and the $150,000 Country Championships Southern Districts qualifier (1400m).
Addiitonally, the stable has Majestic Affair nominated in the 1000m Maiden Handicap and 1175m Maiden Plate.
