Theresa Bateup is a testament to hard work and dedication, having toiled her way, climbing the training ranks to cement herself as an established stalwart of the Kembla Grange training community.
Arriving at the Australian Jockey Club at Randwick in 1994 to begin a week of work experience, Theresa Bateup’s passion for racing was soon ignited.
Then, as a student at Cootamundra High School, the young racing fan was required to spend some time in an industry of her choice, and it took her less than a second to decide what she wanted to do for the rest of her life – and the rest is history.
Growing up on the family farm at Stockinbingal, Bateup first owned a palomino gelding called Buddy, and from there, the flame was fanned, so to speak, and over the next couple of years, her mother, Colleen Bateup, became an operator at the Cootamundra TAB Agency.
Bateup ventured to Wollongong in 1996 to study, and she quickly found herself at Kembla Grange, soon riding trackwork for trainers Debbie Walters, Diane Poidevin-Laine, and Kerry Parker.
As a trainer, Bateup’s first success arrived in 2003 with Casiraghi, which won at Queanbeyan, and most of her success to date has been with inexpensive horses, with the likes of Fleeting Stryke, Burden of Proof, and Monegal.
Other horses such as Jarrett, Crackalacka, and, most recently, Direct Fire, which won the Bega Cup earlier this year, have typified Bateup’s success.
Some 22 years into her training career, Bateup reached a huge milestone at the Sapphire Coast Turf Club on Monday, bringing up her 250th winner as Lady Yarrow prevailed in the 1400m Maiden Plate.
It was a telling result and a great representation of Bateup’s tenacious approach over the years.
The 4YO Shalaa mare had started 9 times for six minor placings in the lead-up to her maiden win but had never been far away in stronger races.
Barely 15 hands tall, the pocket rocket of a mare put it all together at the Sapphire Coast, winning at her tenth start and doing it well to boot, putting 1.37 lengths on a solid maiden field.
What makes the result all the more special for Bateup and her stable is that it was achieved alongside regular stable jockey Jess Taylor.
The pair have combined 1004 times over the years for 91 wins – winning an incredible $2,679,861 in prizemoney.
Taylor has been part and parcel of Bateup’s success, and there’s no doubting the pair will continue to combine for winners across the South East and Southern Districts.
In fact, the pair will combine at Warwick Farm on Wednesday, as stayer Mr Fabulous takes on the 2400m Benchmark 72 Handicap.
Words: Jeff Hanson
Image: Bradley Photos