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By Graeme White

Benno’s Boy – the iron horse of racing – and fledgling apprentice jockey Teighan Worsnop will combine for the first time at the Ladies Day meeting at Wagga on Saturday.

Nine-year-old Benno’s Boy has had more starts than any horse in New South Wales with 177 appearances, while Worsnop is a newcomer with the one race to win to her credit from very few race rides.

Benno's Boy (Bryan Murphy) heads to the barriers at Tumut. Image by Bradley Photographers

Worsnop has had far less rides than Benno’s Boy has had starts, but the fact the veteran of the field knows his way around and finds an ideal race has his trainer Michelle Borserio hopeful of another win.

She has had two wins at the picnic meetings with Benno’s Boy since she acquired the horse at a sale and would love to win another at her home track as Benno’s Boy nears another milestone in the Sheather’s Painting & Decorating Benchmark 58 (1000m).

Benno’s Boy is chasing the 20th win of his career which started out in January of 2014.

The gelding has been a remarkable competitor with a further 29 seconds and 26 thirds over seven years of racing.

Few horses have as many starts let alone win as many races and Borserio feels the old-timer is up to more wins.

“He thinks he is a two or three-year-old the way he carries on. He is a bit quirky and I just keep him happy and give him some swimming and exercise,” she said. “It looks a suitable race for him over the right distance.”

Benno’s Boy raced three weeks ago at the Wagga Cup carnival when well beaten, but prior to that had wins at the Ardlethan and Boorowa picnics. Borserio feels the class of Saturday’s race will be suitable to Benno’s Boy.

“If he jumps well and can roll along he will be right,” she said. “The races he has won for me have been at the picnics, but races are hard to win anywhere and Saturday’s race looks ideal for him.”

Worsnop has had one race win at Hillston in April and Borserio was keen to give the 21-year-old an opportunity. She will claim 3kg off Benno’s Boy reducing his weight to 54kg.

Borserio acquired Beno’s Boy more through luck than wanting another horse.

“I have had older horses before and I wasn’t looking for another one when I got him,” she said. “We have had a couple of wins together and it would be nice to win another one at Wagga which is our home track.”

Meanwhile, Deemed Corrupt will resume from a spell in the same race after winning his maiden at Wagga at the Australia Day meeting. Deemed Corrupt has been highly consistent for his owners with a win and four placings from his past five starts.

Tumut trainer Kerry Weir is confident Deemed Corrupt will be in contention for a long way.

“He goes in without a barrier trial, but he is very fast and 1000 metres is about as far as he can go,” he said. “I can’t gallop him too much because of the way he is so it’s a bit of a balancing act, but I’m happy how he is going.”

Weir will also line-up three starters in the Hillis Motor Group Benchmark 50 (1800m). He rates recent winner Billo Road as the pick of these after some recent starts in better company.

“He won the Hillston Cup, then was second in the Leeton Cup before finding the others too strong in a harder race at the Wagga carnival,” he said. “He is back in grade so I expect him to be right there.”

Weir will also start Crocodile Cod and White Emperor, should he gain a start as an emergency, in the same race.

At present Wagga Wagga is rated a soft 6 in fine weather, with the rail out 9m from the 1400m to the winning post, and True the remainder.

View the final fields with full form & race replays for Wagga here