News

Formidable wins for lucky owners

14th Jan 2012

AAP Megaform - Mark Ryan - Saturday, 14 January 2012

Lucky owners Barrie and Midge Griffiths celebrated their 47th wedding anniversary when Formidable scored an upset win over odds-on favourite If I Could at Flemington.

Prepared by Mathew Ellerton and Simon Zahra, the Strada filly was not expected to win the Better Beyond Plate (1000m) against six other unraced juveniles and drifted accordingly in the betting ring from $8 to start at $18.

Ridden by Chris Symons, Formidable showed good speed to lead and, despite wanting to run out in the straight race, was too speedy and held on well to score by three-quarters of a length from the Mark Kavanagh-trained If I Could ($1.90 fav).

Popular Acclaim ($16) was two lengths away third.

"It's our 47th wedding anniversary today so that is a bit of an omen," Griffiths, who has raced many top horses including Melbourne Cup winner Tawrrific, Caulfield Cup winner Mannerism, Northwood Plume, Azzurro and Response, said.

"We thought she'd come for a bit of a jog around today and then be home on Monday or Tuesday (for a spell) so I'm still shaking."

Griffiths said he had 20 fillies and mares including dual Group One winner Response.

"I get some good help from (bloodstock advisers) George Smith and Ian McPherson, they help me a lot, " he said.

"We normally just wait until they are three-year-olds before they race but this one is a bit of an exception."

Formidable was not nominated for the $1 million Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on February 25 and will be in the paddock when the race is run.

Symons said the filly was still very new.

"Going to the gates she had a tendency to be a little shy of the other horses but she showed brilliant speed and I just allowed her to travel where she was comfortable and she wanted to be in front," he said.

"I had a bit of steering difficulty on her. I'm glad it was a straight race and not around a turn because I could have ended up being on the outside fence.

"The more I fought her the more she wanted to run out. She's a bit tender in the mouth so I allowed her to be comfortable and just guided her with the whip."

Picture: Formidable ($20,000 2011 Classic, 2f Strada-Gladiator Girl)

Formidable is another smart winner for young Danehill (USA) sire Strada, who has seven youngsters entered for the 2012 Inglis Sydney Classic Yearling Sale.