Geisel Park owner Eddie Rigg struck gold at its source when Mr Vadim won the LR Hannan’s Hcp (1400m) at Kalgoorlie on Wednesday.

Apart from Mr Vadim’s share of the $130,000 in prizemoney, Rigg owns his dam and has some more of his half-brothers on the horizon.  “It was a sensational win,” he said after the feature sprint of the Goldfields season.  “We also race his younger half-brother Thidwick The Moose and he won again in Adelaide earlier today.”

Mr Vadim (6g Starcraft – Femme D’Affaire by Woodman) sat in the box seat for visiting jockey Chris Symons and was too strong in the straight for stablemate Prost (Show A Heart).  Rigg races the gelding with the East Meets West Syndicate and trainer Peter Fernie.

The Perth businessman bought Femme D’Affaire for $185,000 at the 2007 Magic Millions National Sale when she was carrying Mr Vadim.  Bred back to Starcraft, she produced The Social Network who was placed in the G2 WA Derby and G3 WA Oaks last year.

Her third foal for Rigg is a budding stayer named Thidwick The Moose (Fastnet Rock).  He won a Balaklava maiden by five lengths on September 4 and then outgunned Rowdy Rocker in a stirring duel at Morphettville on Wednesday.

Rigg owns Thidwick the Moose with Kildalton Park partners Wayne Mitchell and Tony McEvoy.  “He’s by Fastnet Rock and he’s a giant,” Rigg said.  “He’s been winning over 1400 metres but Tony wants to get him out to 2000 metres.”

Waiting in the wings are Femme D’Affaire’s unraced geldings Get Round It (Danehill Express) and Echo Romeo (Musket).  “The mare foaled a ripper colt by Blackfriars last month,” Rigg said shortly after the Hannan’s.  “And she will be covered by War Chant tomorrow morning.

– Karl Patterson

FEMME D’AFFAIRE

Woodman mare and her Blackfriars colt pictured at Geisel Park last week