29 race winner Handsandwheels retires

After over $700,000 in stakes and 102 starts for his connections, Handsandwheels (Mach Three) has hung up the boots after what can only be described as one hell of a harness racing career.

“No soundness issues this time around, he has always been a horse that tried as hard as he could and he felt off in the Bunbury Cup,

“It was always a bonus to get him back and we would always have pulled the pin before we hurt him, he just gave me the feeling he was ready for a well-earned rest.”

From his 102 starts, the nine-year-old son of Mach Three won 29 races, proving to be quite the master of the $50,000 features over the years, including the RWWA Cup in 2019, The Furphy Bunbury Cup that same year, as well as the 4YO and 5YO Championship.

2020 was a good one for the then six-year-old, taking out three $50,000 features in a row; The City of Perth Worldwide Cup, Governors Cup and the RWWA Cup in a space of three weeks.

Handsandwheels confirmed early on in his career that he was something special, winning on debut at Pinjarra in early 2016, but it was as a three-year-old that he won his biggest feature, the Gr1 Sky Racing WA Derby where connections took home $128,000, and just two months later he added the $100,000 WestBred Colts and Geldings final to his impressive resume.

“He really set the tone for when I took over the stable win a few $50,000 races which filled me with confidence to know I was going to be ok at that level,”

“But the best thing about the horse was the ride he took me and dad on winning the Derby was easily the happiest moment we have shared, also a lot of long-time owners which are also friends sharing the enjoyment and celebrations.”

There are no real plans at this stage for the war horse, but a ridden career isn’t off the tables just yet.

“He has been ridden before, so he might end up like that, but for now I’ll just keep him at home for a few months, hopefully he will rub off on a few others.”

It wasn’t just a ride for Aiden De Campo, but for owner Tara Brown ‘Lids’ as he was affectionately known around the stables gave her a thrill that most can only dream of.

“He never got anything for free, he always had to work hard for his success and was quite often the underdog,

“He wasn’t flashy, but I love how he stuck his neck out running towards the finishing line, competitive to the last stride.”

Although Handsandwheels wasn’t her first horse as an owner, he was her first winner, and ignited a passion that many in the industry have experienced, with Brown now involved in seven horses with Aiden De Campo.

“He is the king of the track at Aiden’s, he would go onto the track, seemingly counting the laps himself, worked hard every time and then promptly took himself off the track knowing he had done his bit,

“I’ve never experienced such a thrill, as an owner.”

A Derby, WestBred Final and countless $50,000 features are all amazing feats, but it was a race in 2020 that Brown thinks of most fondly.

“My favourite race of all time was the dual he had with Chicago Bull at GP on the 17th of July, 2020,

“They broke away from the pack and went stride for stride for the last lap and we just got in front, but Chicago Bull made one last stride on the line and just beat us,

“I was so proud of Lids in that race, even though he didn’t win.”

Enjoy your retirement, Lids. You’ve earned it.

by Ashleigh Paikos, for RWWA