Formal Display's impressive form continues towards The Big Dance

The reputation of Formal Display as one of racing's most rapidly improving horses was further enhanced by a characteristically gritty win in the Group 3 $1.5 million Alan Brown Stakes (1400m) at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.

Having begun the year competing in a humble benchmark 78 event, Formal Display has maintained a winning streak, progressing impressively through the grades and showcasing his development with this career-defining victory.

Yet, trainers Annabel and Rob Archibald are firmly focused on a more prestigious objective – the Listed $3 million Big Dance (1600m) scheduled for 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.

Under a masterful ride from Kerrin Mcevoy, Formal Display ($26) overcame a significant wide draw to secure a prominent position and ultimately fend off his rivals in the home stretch. He crossed the line a long neck clear of the closing Estadio Mestalla ($21), with Linebacker ($5) a further half length adrift in third.

The favoured runner, Sepals, at $4.20, encountered traffic issues on the bend. Upon attempting to advance, the horse appeared to falter and was subsequently eased to finish at the back of the field.

McEvoy, representing Triple Crown Racing, the ownership group behind the dual Everest winner Redzel, executed a brilliant tactical manoeuvre to guide Formal Display to victory.

"It was my first time on him but Annabel and Rob said he was in nice form,'' McEvoy explained. "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 secured five victories from his seven starts this year, Formal Display's next engagement will be the Big Dance on the first Tuesday of November.

Archibald, who recently became a mother to Margot, her and Rob's first child, was attending a Saturday race meeting for the first time in several months and was delighted with the stable's leading win 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 is a major focus, and punters are already exploring the racing betting markets.