Paul Fudge's Waratah Thoroughbreds splashed out €350,000 (A$473,000) for 3yo filly Insoumise (Galileo x Featherquest, by Rainbow Quest) at the 2011 Arqana Breeding Stock Sale and it is beginning to look like money well spent.
No great shakes on the racetrack, finishing among the tailenders in her two starts, the blue-blooded Insoumise is the dam of the striking Shamardal 4yo Handsome Thief who could not have made a more impressive career debut over 1200 metres at Moonee Valley on Friday.
Ridden by Brad Rawiller, the Darren Weir-trained entire tracked the early speed before launching in the straight to defeat My Aim Is True (Equiano) by three and three-quarter lengths with Limestone Cowboy (Lucky Owners) a further two and a half lengths back in third.(photo Grant Courtney).
No surprise to the stable here, Handsome Thief started a heavily backed favourite coming in from $6 to start at $3.70.
Rawiller said the winner has a bright future.
"Barriers are such a bonus when you are on a first starter, he said.
"We just landed in a beautiful spot, got into a nice rhythm down the side. Went a bit early, I had to flush out to make sure he was out in the open.
"He was going like a good thing and I had to make him that - quickened away strong.
'He's a lovely horse, he was well placed, not a strong maiden but all you can do is win.
"Potentially he seems to tick all the boxes at the moment. He's just a lovely horse and I'm rapt to ride a winner for Paul Fudge, he's a great man and a real gentleman and it's always great fun riding a winner for him. He's got a really nice team coming through and hopefully we can be joining up for many winners this new year."
The dam of Handsome Thief, 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.
