Formal Display has cemented his status as one of the most improved horses in training following a typically determined performance to win the Group 3 $1.5 million Alan Brown Stakes (1400m) at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.
Having commenced the year in the lower benchmark 78 grade, Formal Display has embarked on a winning spree, advancing through the ranks and demonstrating his considerable progression with this career-best victory.
However, trainers Annabel and Rob Archibald have their sights firmly fixed on a more significant prize: 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 revealed. “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 with considerable skill by Kerrin Mcevoy, Formal Display ($26) managed the challenge of a wide barrier to race prominently and subsequently held off his pursuers in the final stages, winning by a long neck from the fast-finishing Estadio Mestalla ($21). Linebacker ($5) secured third place, a half length further back.
The favourite, Sepals, went out at $4.20 but encountered difficulties on the turn. After beginning to make ground, the horse seemed to falter and was eased out of the race, finishing at the tail end of the field.
McEvoy, wearing the distinctive silks of Triple Crown Racing, a connection he shares with the dual Everest champion Redzel from 2017-18, produced a masterclass ride to steer Formal Display to victory.
“It was my first time on him but Annabel and Rob said he was in nice form,” McEvoy said. “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.”
Having now amassed five wins from his seven starts this year, Formal Display is now set to compete in the Big Dance on the first Tuesday of November.
Archibald, who recently welcomed her first child, Margot, was attending a Saturday race meeting for the first time in several months and was celebrating the stable’s most significant triumph of the current 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 quipped. “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.”
The upcoming Big Dance at Royal Randwick presents an exciting opportunity, with many now checking Australian betting sites for early odds.
