Apprentice jockey grabs new opportunity with both hands

By Jordan Gerrans

Set to come out of her time early next year, apprentice jockey Tessa Townsend has made the move to North Queensland with aims of establishing herself in the riding ranks before she soon becomes a senior jockey.

The 30-year-old hoop heads to Cairns’ Cannon Park on Saturday afternoon with a nice book of rides on the Cup day program.

Townsend is indentured to Toowoomba trainer Steve Tregea and has gone on a three-month loan period with Townsville’s Georgie Holt.

The natural lightweight took rides at Bowen last Saturday afternoon in her first meeting since the move.

Townsend – who hails from Cunnamulla – was not receiving as many race riding opportunities as she wanted around the Darling Downs area of the Sunshine State and saw a chance to get her foot in the door in NQ.

With her apprenticeship set to finish in January of 2024, Townsend is keen to stay on in Townsville if it all works out positively.

“With more opportunities comes more confidence and that comes out in your riding,” Townsend said.

Townsend has found success on the country and provincial circuit throughout her career, riding more than 22 winners in four of her five completed seasons. 

With many of Tregea’s horses at a city level, Townsend often struggled to pick up rides for him on a regular basis at provincial and country level.

The apprentice hoop will take two rides for her new boss Holt on Saturday in FNQ.

The Holt stable's former apprentice Kiran Quilty suffered a fall in May of this year and has been on the sidelines since.

With a big team of gallopers to work and with race rides on offer, Holt was keen to take on Townsend.

“It is great to have Tessa come on board as we always need more work riders up here in Townsville,” Holt said.

“She has a couple of nice rides for the stable this Saturday in Cairns and hopefully she can have some luck up there.”

Georgie trains alongside her husband, heavyweight rider Aidan Holt.

Townsend has settled in well to her new environment.

“I was not really getting a lot of opportunities where I was and I heard about Georgie and Aidan, I have been here for nearly for two weeks so far and they have given me quite a few rides,” Townsend said.

“They are wonderful people and have plenty of time.

“They are so relaxed as well, they are quite happy to help, which is great.”

While Townsend does not have a booking in the big Cup on Saturday at Cairns Jockey Club, she does have a few solid winning hopes.

She partners Super Vogue and Hurtle for the Holts – who have both drawn low – while also picking up the job on Bella's In Command for Ray Moller and Troy Clive’s Pluckercarn.

Hurtle steps up in trip in the Class 6 Plate over 1250 metres after finishing in the money over 950 metres at the same track last Saturday afternoon.

“Hurtle finished off strongly last start, he did not start too well,” Townsend said.

“Hopefully with a little extra distance, he will be able to settle nicely and come home strong.”