Moose bolts in at Balaklava

Friday, 6 September 2013 - Geisel Park homebred Thidwick the Moose looks destined to win a decent race after bolting in at Balaklava on Wednesday.

Thidwick the Moose (4g Fastnet Rock - Femme D'Affaire by Woodman) appeared first-up after 22 weeks on the sidelines and was untroubled to break through in the Bardrill Maiden Plate (1400m). Starting a $2.80 favourite, he was forced to travel wide under Nick Hall but was a class above his rivals to score by five lengths over stablemate Loncava (Lonhro).

Trainer Tony McEvoy has been pleased with the winner’s progress this year. “He would have won in another bound at Balaklava before going out for a spell in April,” McEvoy said. “He’s a giant-framed horse and will be best suited getting out to 2000 metres.”

Geisel Park owner Eddie Rigg races Thidwick the Moose with McEvoy’s business partner Wayne Mitchell. He bred the gelding who is by Coolmore champion Fastnet Rock from Femme D'Affaire, a close relation of Longchamp Group 1 winner Maximova (Green Dancer).

Femme D'Affaire’s earlier foals include WA winner The Social Network (Starcraft). She was also beaten a short-neck when runner-up to Pop Culture in last year’s G3 Western Australian Oaks.

The French bred mare has a 2yo gelding named Echo Romeo (Musket) with Ascot trainer Colin Webster. He was a $22,000 buy from Geisel Park at the 2013 Perth Magic Millions.

Like many of Rigg’s horses, Thidwick the Moose is named after a character in the Dr. Seuss children’s books. Geisel Park fillies Fuddle Dee Duddle (Red Ransom) and Bippo No Bungus (Dubawi) filled out a G3 quinella in last year’s Champion Fillies Stakes at Ascot.

- Karl Patterson