GRAND LARCENY BY SHE'S A THIEF

Presented in outstanding condition, She’s A Thief (3 f Showcasing – Steal, by Red Ransom) was back in the winning groove on 16 February at Ellerslie, in the $25,000 Superfence 1200 metres.

Fresh from winning the $400,000 Herbie Dyke Stakes (Gr. 1, 2000m) with On the Rocks (Alamosa) last Saturday at Te Rapa – a victory that provided Pam Gerard with her first Group One win and co-trainer Mike Moroney with his 50th – Ballymore Stables continued the roll.

After running home strongly for fourth in the Mongolian Khan Trophy (Gr. 3, 1200m) on Karaka Million night at Ellerslie, 26 January, She’s A Thief brought course form from last season when finishing third in the Eclipse Stakes (Gr. 3, 1200m), fourth in the Karaka Million (Restricted Listed, 1200m), and the Matamata Breeders’ Stakes (Gr. 2, 1200m) runner-up has now won three of eight starts for owners Karen Glindemann, Jane Carolan, Jo Hikaka, Lisa Lindberg, Lynette O’Connor, Woburn Farm, and Ballymore Stables (NZ).

Springing an awkward gate (8) to travel outside the leader of a soft tempo, She’s A Thief took the lead 200m out and got clear for rider Jake Bayliss to win authoritatively.

The overall time on Good3 footing, 1:12.6, indicated an easy tempo which played into the hands of the $3.40 & $1.50 race favourite.

“It was a nice ride and we took luck out of the equation,” Gerard said. “She was unlucky last time when carted off the track and should have gone closer. She’s a very, very smart filly, a wee champ.”

Initially a $13,000 weanling purchase by Adrian Stanley and Hannah Kettlety (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.

“She had a few issues at the end of her last prep and took a bit longer to get her right, but I think she’s come back better than ever,” Gerard said.

Gerard said She’s A Thief would contest the $60,000 Mufhasa Fasttrack Stakes (Listed, 1300m) on 2 March at Ellerslie, while also reporting that On the Rocks came through his race “a box of fluffies, loving the attention” and preparing for the weight-for-age $200,000 Bonecrusher New Zealand Stakes (Gr. 1, 2000m) on 9 March at Ellerslie.

In form, on the back of both On the Rocks and She’s A Thief, Jake Bayliss said: “18 months ago, Mike and Pam brought me over to be their stable jockey and you look back through the tallies and see we’ve got a Group One and a number of Group Twos and a few stakes winners along the way, and I have so respect for both of them.

“She’s a classy filly and Pam said she’d like to bring her back to her grade to give her a soft little kill, so she’ll grow great confidence from that and there’s bigger things in store for her.”

She’s A Thief was strapped by Scott Magee.