Tessa Townsend goes from Bott to the bush

By Jordan Gerrans

Hoop Tessa Townsend believes a summer of riding work for one of the leading stables in Australia will set her up perfectly for her 2025 season in the bush. 

The 32-year-old hails from Augathella and is in the process of moving back to the regional town to ride predominantly in the Central West and Downs areas of Queensland.

After previously being based in Toowoomba and Townsville during her apprenticeship, it will be a homecoming for the lightweight jockey.

With bush racing in that area slowing down over the warmer summer months in Queensland, Townsend organised to spend the time in Sydney riding work for Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott.

She thinks the time spent around the high-level trainers, horses and other riders at Randwick will hold her in good stead going forward.  

“I am very lucky as I get to ride Group horses every single day and do gallops with the big-name jockeys like Regan Bayliss, Rachel King and Adam Hyeronimus,” she said.

“It has definitely been a huge benefit to me to ride alongside good quality riders on good quality horses.

“Just minor things about how you push a horse out or where you should have your strength in your body to be more balanced.

“I have been getting pointers from every single rider, which I think has benefited me a lot with my riding.

“The plan was to come down for the off-season and get as much experience as possible. I have definitely benefited from being down here.”

Townsend has been a senior rider for about a year after coming out of her time as an apprentice.

Townsend was indentured to Toowoomba trainer Steve Tregea before a period with Townsville’s Georgie Holt.

She aims to be based back in Augathella within a month and plans to travel far and wide to ride work, including venturing to tracks such as Barcaldine, Blackall, Charleville and Cunnamulla, among others.

Before she moves back, Townsend has been driving to regional Queensland from Sydney over the last few weeks to ride on the weekend. 

The daughter of Augathella trainer Peter Townsend landed a victory aboard Warrah Flash for Garry Bignell last Sunday at Charleville.

Townsend hopes it is the start of a positive campaign in the region.

Warrah Flash won by more than two lengths in an Open Handicap.

“I was very lucky being able to grow up out there in the west and I have known these people all my life so they support me with rides,” she said.

“When I do go out to the west, I often am lucky enough to get on the better horses.

“I was lucky Garry gave me the opportunity to get on him and he is a beautiful horse that did everything right.

“He put himself into the race and travelled beautiful, he finished the race off over the top of them.”

Townsend heads to Barcaldine Racing Club on Saturday for five rides before taking an engagement at Emerald Jockey Club on Tuesday, as well.

She selected Project Xero for Terry Hall in the QTIS Maiden Plate at Barcaldine over 1200 metres as one of her better chances on the program.

“I definitely think the grass track will benefit him on Saturday,” Townsend said of Project Xero. 

“Hopefully we can get him travelling beautiful and he can run over the top of them.

“The one of Toni Schofield’s I have Ready And Waiting, in the second race, will be hard to beat as well - I think she is a very good chance.

“I trialed the one Clinton Austin’s (Brilliant Melody) after the last at Blackall and she jumped straight to the front and had good speed.”