SA jockey Teagan Voorham answers call again to ride Hype in Mackay Cup in regional Queensland

Trainer Aiden Nunn helped to teach SA jockey Teagan Voorham to ride polo ponies and now she is paying him back by riding Hype in regional Cups in Queensland.

It’s the special connection forged as a little girl growing up in Tasmania that could land South Australian jockey Teagan Voorham a pair of prized Cups in regional Queensland.

Voorham was raised in the Apple Isle where she learned to ride polo ponies with the help of polo champion and now racehorse trainer Aiden Nunn.

When travelling horseman Nunn was looking for a jockey to ride his ex-Lloyd Williams owned horse Hype in the Rockhampton Cup last month, he sent an SOS to Voorham.

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The South Australia-based jockey was happy to oblige and her flight to Queensland landed a big reward when she scored the Cup on Hype who unleashed a powerful run from the back of the field to storm home over his opposition.

Now Nunn and Voorham are looking to do it again with Hype in Saturday’s Mackay Cup (2000m).

Jockey Teagan Voorham and trainer Aiden Nunn are out to win the Mackay Cup after combining to win the Rockhampton Cup with Hype last month. Picture: Caught In The Act Photography CQ

“Teagan started playing polocrosse when she was a kid in Tasmania and she joined the same club that I had been playing at for many years,” Nunn said.

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“I coached her when she was a kid coming through the grades.

“She eventually ended up breaking into our A-Grade team and her, my wife and I played in a section together for the season.

“Teagan used to get around on a little grey pony and that’s how her love of horses started.

“She did a lot of pony club and equestrian as well.”

Nunn said he was struggling to find a jockey before the Rockhampton Cup before he had a brainwave.

Voorham and Hype after winning the Rockhampton Cup. Picture: Caught In The Act Photography CQ

“I was at my wits’ end looking for a jockey, I was in my car and I was thinking what’s my next step?” Nunn said.

“Teagan just popped into my head.

“I thought I would take my chances and send her a message.

“She was on her way to the races and she rang me back and said give her 10 minutes and she would give me an answer.

“Adelaide is fairly quiet with their racing at the minute, so she was happy to come up.”

Hype steps up 400m in distance in the Mackay Cup which Nunn feels is “a fraction weaker” field than the Rockhampton Cup.

The only question mark, according to Nunn, is that Hype was probably better suited at Rockhampton with its long straight.

Originally published as SA jockey Teagan Voorham answers call again to ride Hype in Mackay Cup in regional Queensland