Formal Display shines in Alan Brown Stakes ahead of Big Dance

Formal Display continued his outstanding rise with a brilliant victory in the Group 3 $1.5 million Alan Brown Stakes (1400m) at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.
 
Having started the year in Benchmark 78 company, he has progressed through the grades in impressive fashion, winning five of his seven starts this year and delivering a career-best performance on Saturday.
 
The victory provided an exciting stepping stone towards his main 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 said.
 
“We have been able to plan his preparation 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.”
 
A superb ride from Kerrin McEvoy helped Formal Display overcome a wide barrier, showing early speed to find a forward position before settling into his rhythm. He responded strongly in the straight, digging deep to hold off Estadio Mestalla by a long neck, with Linebacker a further half-length away in third.
 
Wearing the familiar red colours of Triple Crown, McEvoy made his first ride aboard Formal Display a winning one.
 
“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.”
 
The result also marked a memorable return to Saturday racing for Annabel following the birth of her and Rob’s first child, Margot.
 
“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.”
 
Formal Display will now head straight to the Big Dance, with plenty to look forward to as he builds towards his spring grand final.
 
Congratulations to Triple Crown Syndications, all of his owners and our team on a wonderful Group 3 success.