Teighan Worsnop has been like a kid on Christmas eve all week.
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And who could blame her?
After recently being granted her jockey's licence, Worsnop is set to realise a long-held ambition of riding in her first race at Albury on Boxing Day.
Local trainer Martin Stein informed Worsnop earlier in the week that she was booked to partner Prototype in the $8000 Class One Handicap, (1175m).
Worsnop, 20, said the opportunity to take the one ride at Albury today was the Christmas present she wished for most.
"I've been extremely excited since I found out I would be riding on Boxing Day," Worsnop said.
"I've also been getting a lot more nervous as the day draws closer.
"But I think I'm as ready as I'll ever be.
"The support I've received from the local trainers and jockeys has been amazing and everybody is rapt for me.
"It's given me a lot of confidence and I realise the first step is always the hardest."
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Worsnop has been involved with horses most of her life but it is only recently that she made the switch to thoroughbreds.
She is apprenticed to her grandfather Garry Worsnop who trains a small team of horses from Racecourse Road.
"I grew up competing in rodeos," she said.
"Then about two years ago I started riding trackwork for my pop (Garry Worsnop) who is a trainer at Albury.
"I was instantly hooked and being light enough to be a jockey, I decided I would give it a crack.
"Previously to that I was only ever involved in Quarter horses.
"But once I started riding trackwork I fell in love with the industry and am passionate about becoming the best jockey I can and see where that takes me."
Worsnop said she has been overwhelmed by the support shown by local trainers who have provided her with plenty of opportunities to ride trackwork.
"Pop has been great," she said.
"But so have a lot of the other trainers including Kym Davison, Marty Stein, Rob Wellington, John Whitelaw and Gordon Yorke.
"Norm Loy has also been a huge help and basically taught me how to ride."
Stein said he hoped he could prove to be a good luck charm for Worsnop and provide the fledgling jockey with her first winner.
"Both Simon Miller and Brodie Loy rode their first winners on gallopers that I trained," Stein said.
Worsnop said Prototype may be a couple runs short of her best after finishing eighth at Corowa recently when resuming from a nine week spell.