Waratah Thoroughbred's Handsome Thief Captures Wangoom

Mark Smith - Wednesday May 2

From Sha Tin to Warrnambool, it's been a big week for the former shuttler Shamardal (USA).

Three days after cult hero Pakistan Star (GER) scored a barnstorming victory in the Group 1 Audemars Piguet QEII Cup at Sha Tin, Shamardal's imported son Handsome Thief (IRE) led a home a 1-2 for Darren Weir in the $150,000 Listed Midfield Group Wangoom Handicap (1200m) at Warrnambool.

Advertisement

Sent off a short-priced favourite under Dean Yendall, Handsome Thief  (IRE) defeated Stellar Collision (Star Witness) by a half-length with Bassett (Savabeel) a long neck away third.


"Darren said that if I just left him alone early, he'd finish off strongly," Yendall said.

"I got to the 500(m) and I thought, 'I don't think I'm travelling as well as I'd like to be because he was off the bridle a bit.

"When I got stuck into him and asked for a nice, strong effort, Stellar Collision came with me but he was really good on the line."

The winner of three of his first four starts, Handsome Thief (IRE) advances his record to 6 wins, 3 seconds and 2 thirds from 14 starts with earnings of $297,400.

A homebred for Paul Fudge's Waratah Thoroughbreds, Handsome Thief is out of the Galileo mare Insoumise who Fudge purchased for €350,000 (A$473,000) as a 3yo at the 2011 Arqana Breeding Stock Sale.

Finishing among the tailenders at her two starts, the blue-blooded Insoumise is a half-sister to Group 1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud winner Plumania (Anabaa) and Group II Prix de Royallieu winner Balladeuse (Singspiel).

Her dam Featherquest (Rainbow Quest) is a three-sister to Group 1 winner Groom Dancer a short-term shuttler who sired the Group I Turnbull Stakes winner Sphenophyta.

Featherquest is also the dam of Arrowfield Stud's imported mare Keltshaan the dam of star Japanese sprinter Kinshasa No Kiseki (Fuji Kiseki) and the granddam of the 2011 Group 1 AJC Australian Oaks heroine Absolutely (Redoute's Choice).

This is the family of Legerete, Falco, Vert Amande, Le Nain Jaune and the2011 Group 1 Arc De Triomphe winner Danedream.

Handsome Prince becomes the 116th stakes-winner for Shamardal (USA) whose own sire Giant's Causeway recently passed away at Ashford Stud, Kentucky.

Advertisment
More Reading...
Eureka Stud Make Million Dollar Magic
Leading Queensland nursery Eureka Stud will be kept busy at Magic Millions with a big draft of 27 yearlings and 10 are by the farm’s champion sire Spirit of Boom, who runs at an impressive 73% winners to runners with 30 stakes-winners on his tally.
First Winner for G1 Mare Toffee Tongue
A full sister to Hong Kong Horse of the Year and triple G1 winner Werther, Toffee Tongue had plenty of ability too, winning the 2020 SAJC Schweppes Oaks and her first foal scored a debut win at Sale on Thursday.
Part 2 Anamoe – Kiwi Origins Produce an Aussie Champion
A champion colt that competes at the top of his game for three seasons winning G1 races at two, three and four acquires a legion of fans along the way, so this week we are paying tribute to Anamoe, ahead of his first yearlings being sold next week at Magic Millions.
Snitzel Blueblood Scores on Debut for Pencarrow - Half-Brother K1
Regally-bred gelding Sarti has a long way to go to live up to his breeding, but he made the perfect start to his career when winning impressively on debut at Tauranga on Thursday.
Sires With Winners - Thursday January 8
Here is the full list of 36 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Magic Time Awaits Bowness Stud
With six Book 1 yearlings and a further 14 catalogued in Book 2, Bowness Stud’s James and Jocelyn Daly head to this year’s Magic Millions yearling sale full of confidence in the draft which is headlined by eight yearlings from resident sire and G1 Rosehill Guineas winner D’Argento, the best performed son of So You Think at stud.
Yoyo Yeezy Goes Yes Yes Yes With Three Straight
Highlighted as a ‘One To Watch’ after breaking his maiden back in July, Matt Hoysted’s 4yo Yes Yes Yes gelding Yoyo Yeeyz has continued on with his winning ways, adding a further two wins from as many starts.
Twilight Tale Tops Successful Magic Millions Digital Sale
Stakes performed Savabeel mare Twilight Tale topped the Magic Millions Digital Sale (2-7 Jan) today when selling to New Zealand interests for $115,000. 
Sires With Winners - Wednesday January 7
Here is the full list of 38 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Part 3 Anamoe - The Street Cry Legacy
A champion colt that competes at the top of his game for three seasons winning G1 races at two, three and four acquires a legion of fans along the way, so this week we are paying tribute to Anamoe, ahead of his first yearlings being sold next week at Magic Millions.