SHE'S A THIEF IMPRESSES ON DEBUT

Beautiful grey filly She’s A Thief (2 f Showcasing – Steal, by Red Ransom) made a perfect start to her racing career with an impressive win in the $10,000 Wentwood Grange Juvenile on 26 November at Te Rapa.

Trialling very well for second and first, respectively, before the debut, she travelled peaches and cream in front before quickening clear to win untouched by nearly five lengths for rider Jake Bayliss.

She’s A Thief ran the 1000 metres in 58.5 and last 600m in a slick 33.9. Second favourite in a field of six, she paid $3.30 & $1.40 on the NZ TAB.

The win was the ninth for Bayliss and continued his good form since arriving only 16 days earlier in New Zealand.

“She’s just a beauty,” said co-trainer Pam Gerard. “I don’t do anything, she does it herself and very easy to train.

“Jakes knows her. He’s been riding her work, so when he’s confident he knows how to ride the race.

“She’s done it very easily, without any pressure, and now we can look towards the bigger races.”

She’s A Thief is owned by Karen Glindemann, Jane Carolan, Jo Hikaka, Lisa Lindberg, Lynette O’Connor, Woburn Farm, and Ballymore Stables (NZ).

Initially a $13,000 weanling purchase by Adrian and Hannah Stanley (Woburn Farm), she was prepared and offered by them at the 2017 New Zealand Bloodstock Festival Yearling Sale before being selected by Paul Moroney and purchased for $30,000.

Following the sale, which gave her Karaka Million eligibility, Woburn Farm bought back into the filly.

“There was 12.5% left so we bought back in,” said Hannah Stanley.

“We buy colts to pinhook, but this filly just walked past us and we said wow what’s that filly and decided to buy her,” said Adrian Stanley.

“Paul (Moroney) had more [money] for her and said, “I stole her off you.” He said she should have been in K2 (Select Sale) where she would have made more money, and we were a bit upset we sold her but now we’re happy to have a share because she’s been special from day one.

“Paul is great judge, has a great eye, one of the best, and said he would have had to pay more in the Select Sale, but it’s all worked out well. I was happy when Paul bought her and shook his hand afterwards.

“They don’t necessarily have to be big and strong as young horses, but precocious, with a good walk, good attitude, and she’s got all of that.”

Her dam, Steal, a winner over 1400 metres on good ground in Australia, is by “sensationally fast juvenile” Red Ransom (Roberto).

Regarding the naming of the filly, Craig Lindberg, a long standing client of Ballymore, and husband of Lisa Lindberg, said: “We had a big dinner and the wives each chose names and then they discussed and voted on it. She’s A Thief is quite a clever name and hopefully she can steal a million dollars at Ellerslie.”

She’s A Thief was strapped by Scott Magee.