While Format’s road to the VRC St Leger wasn’t the route originally envisioned by Tulloch Lodge, co-trainer Adrian Bott believes the revised plan could still pay dividends.

The promising colt hasn’t raced since April 1, when he failed to beat a runner home in the Group 2 Tulloch Stakes. That race was meant to serve as a lead-in to the Group 1 ATC Australian Derby (2400m) four days later, but after being named third emergency, Format missed a start and instead arrives at Flemington fresh for Friday’s Listed $200,000 feature.

“He went round in the market in the Tulloch, but he was disappointing that day,” Bott said.

“We were still willing to back him up in the Derby, but that didn’t eventuate, and the plan was to potentially always take him down for the St Leger anyway.

“Whether missing the Derby was a good thing in hindsight (we’ll find out).”

After missing the Derby, Format was quickly relocated to Waterhouse and Bott’s Flemington base, where he tuned up for the St Leger with a strong jumpout win last Thursday at Werribee, defeating Group 2 winner Lady In Pink over 1100m.

The colt is out to deliver Waterhouse her sixth victory in the VRC St Leger, a race she’s won previously with Hippopus, Order Of The Sun, Runaway, Transact, and Sacramento — the last three trained in partnership with Bott.

By Frankel, Format would become the first of the champion stallion’s progeny to win the historic race, which predates even the Melbourne Cup. He is out of Nechita, a daughter of Fastnet Rock who won the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) at Flemington in 2012.

Nechita began her broodmare career overseas after Coolmore acquired her for $1.55 million in 2013. She’s produced five runners by Galileo, including The Metropolitan (2400m) placegetter Harpo Marx, Artistic Star, who ran second in the King Edward VII Stakes, and Group 3 winner Forebearance — all over staying trips, which Bott sees as a positive.

“He should appreciate the trip,” Bott said.

Format has drawn barrier eight in a field of 12 for Friday’s VRC St Leger, with Ben Melham booked for the ride.