Formal Display has solidified his standing as one of racing’s most improved horses with a tenacious victory in the Group 3 $1.5 million Alan Brown Stakes (1400m) at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.
Having commenced the year in a modest benchmark 78 grade, Formal Display has consistently found the winner’s circle, progressing through the grades and marking this career-best win as a significant step.
However, trainers Annabel and Rob Archibald have set their sights on a more prestigious target: the Listed $3 million Big Dance (1600m) at Royal Randwick on Melbourne Cup Day, November 3.
“Formal Display obviously got qualified early on in the Tamworth Cup and from that day onwards we knew the Big Dance would be his Grand Final,” Annabel Archibald stated. “We have been able to ‘prep’ accordingly so it was always the Bill Ritchie, this race and then the Big Dance.”
“The Big Dance is obviously the Grand Final but happy to win $1.5 million race on the way through – and he has plenty of improvement to come,” she added.
Ridden expertly by Kerrin Mcevoy, Formal Display ($26) navigated a wide barrier to gain a forward position and successfully held off his rivals in the home straight. He finished a long neck ahead of the fast-closing Estadio Mestalla ($21), with Linebacker ($5) a further half length back in third.
The $4.20 favourite, Sepals, encountered trouble on the turn, appeared to shorten stride when attempting to improve, and was eased to the tail of the field.
McEvoy, donning the silks of Triple Crown Racing for the first time since the successful era of Redzel in 2017-18, delivered a superb ride to secure the win aboard Formal Display.
“It was my first time on him but Annabel and Rob said he was in nice form,” McEvoy commented. “They gave me a blank canvas, left it up to me how to ride the horse from that barrier. “I said to the guys beforehand I could be anywhere from first four to 6th, 7th, 8th but he was in good form going around and felt nice and bright.”
“He had to do a little bit of work to get across and I played it by ear on how he stepped away. “Then he stepped really well so we were able to burn across and he got a bit of a cheap sectional down the side so he filled his lungs up and away he went.”
With five wins from his seven starts this year, Formal Display is now set to contest the Big Dance on the first Tuesday in November.
Archibald, who recently welcomed her first child, Margot, returned to Saturday racing after a hiatus and celebrated the stable’s most significant win this season.
“I haven’t been racing on a Saturday for awhile so I might have to tell Rob to stay home a bit more,” she remarked humorously. “But it was no surprise to us that Formal Display won although I was a little surprised by his odds to be honest. Maybe it was the (wide) barrier.”
“We were a little bit worried about the map but Kerrin (McEvoy) made the right decision (early). “The intent was always to be forward but we weren’t sure quite where. “I thought we were going to be wide at one stage so I was happy he kept pressing (forward) as he is a horse that you can come back and control races on. “But once he got there he didn’t get attacked, it looked like he relaxed well and obviously he had a lightweight. “He is very progressive and Triple Crown have another nice horse on their hands.”
Betting on the upcoming Big Dance at Royal Randwick is now open with leading Australian betting sites.
