Theresa Stair: Tamworth trainer scores third win with Belbaroo after getting licence in 2014

Not only was Stair's mother Dawn Kelly a trainer in Tamworth but her father, Cecil 'Skeeter' Kelly, was a legendary jockey.

Despite having an upbringing around racing, it wasn't always a given Stair would move into the training business herself.

"I married and had my children reasonably young, so... it's very hard to do that [raise children] and training," Stair said.

Then, in 2014, an opportunity arose.

While managing a farm for Mike Almond, the owner asked Stair to get her licence and train horses for him.

"It was like a dream come true but I never really thought that's where I'd end up," Stair, who trains alongside her husband Ashley, said.

Stair trains out of Lesley Jeffriess' stables which were previously owned by Stair's mother, Dawn.

After Dawn's husband Skeeter died following a race fall, she sold the stables to Jeffriess' father Merv Corliss.

With ties to the stables, it was only fitting that Stair trains from there now.

"When I was looking for somewhere to train, Lesley said 'you better come here because there's a bit of history here'," Stair recalled.

Stair thought training was a pipe dream, let alone having a horse that could win three races in a row. But now she's done both.

Belbaroo achieved the feat for Stair when winning the Inverell RSL Sub Branch Diggers Cup (1800m) on Saturday at the Inverell Jockey Club.

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The six-year-old started his run at the 800-metre mark under jockey Jackson Searle and cruised past his competitors.

Belbaroo, who is sired by 2010 Melbourne Cup winner Americain, kept on going to complete the demolition job, winning by seven lengths.

The gelding has come a long way from the yearling that owners Suzy Cleland and Steve Blore brought to Stair.

"He had 20 starts before he won a race. The penny just dropped," Stair said.

"He's been very immature but he's six now and with age, maturity has come.

"The plan was just to let him settle and be happy and then get going early because he likes to come home over the top of the field, like he has been."

Searle started the run earlier than anticipated when the field slowed down at the 800-metre mark.

Belbaroo wasn't happy with the tempo, so Searle hit the button instead.

"He thought 'I'll just go'. I think he was pretty impressed with how explosive he was when he let down," Stair said.

Adding to the occasion was the fact the Diggers Cup is a race that Stair's father had won "two or three times" as a jockey.

And as to where Belbaroo will race next, Stair doesn't know just yet.

An Armidale Cup would be "very tough" but could be on the cards but one thing Stair is sure of is she wants Searle riding again.

"They just seem to click," Stair said.

"The horse seems to like Jackson and we'll keep them together if we can."

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