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Progressive import Formal Display has dramatically enhanced his credentials for next month’s The Big Dance after producing a surprise victory in Saturday’s Group 3 $1.5 million Alan Brown Stakes (1400m) at Rosehill, giving trainers Annabel and Rob Archibald a valuable spring feature and confirming the gelding is right on track for his grand final on Melbourne Cup Day in Sydney.
Starting at $26, the son of Too Darn Hot delivered a career-best performance under champion jockey Kerrin McEvoy, overcoming a wide draw to settle prominently before proving too strong late, defeating fellow outsider Estadio Mestalla by a long neck with Linebacker another half-length away in third.
The victory was no fluke according to co-trainer Annabel Archibald, who revealed Listed $3 million The Big Dance (1600m) at Randwick on the first Tuesday of November has long been the horse’s major target after he secured eligibility earlier this year through his Tamworth Showcase Cup success.
“The Big Dance is obviously the Grand Final but happy to win a $1.5 million race on the way through,” she told Sky Thoroughbred Central.
It was no surprise either, but I was a little surprised by his odds to be honest but maybe it was the barrier.”
Archibald admitted the wide gate created some pre-race concerns but praised McEvoy’s tactical judgement in getting the gelding into the ideal position.
“We were a little bit worried about the map, but Kerrin made the right decision early,” she said.
“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.”
The trainer believes Formal Display is still improving and said the stable has carefully planned his campaign around a crack at 2026 The Big Dance.
“He is very progressive and Triple Crown have another nice horse on their hands. He has plenty of improvement to come,” Archibald added.
“He obviously got qualified early on in the Tamworth Cup and from that day onwards we knew the Big Dance would be his Grand Final.
“We have been able to prep accordingly so it was always the Bill Ritchie, this race and then the Big Dance.”
McEvoy, riding the gelding for the first time, was given freedom to assess the situation after jumping and executed the plan perfectly.
“First time on him,” he said.
“Annabel and Rob said he was in nice form. Had improved from that first-up run. They gave me a blank canvas. Leave it up to you.
“I said to the guys beforehand I could be anywhere from first four to sixth, seventh or eighth. He was in good form going around nice and bright. Stepped really well.
“So, we were able to burn across. He got a bit of a cheap spot down the side, filled his lungs up and away he went.”
Despite doing early work from the awkward barrier, McEvoy felt the gelding travelled strongly throughout.
“He had to do a little bit of work to get across,” the winning hoop said.
“I played it by ear on how he stepped away. It was good to go out there with an open mind and it worked in my favour.”
The veteran jockey also enjoyed returning to the famous colours carried by sprinting superstar and dual The Everest hero Redzel.
“I haven’t had a winner in these colours for a while,” he added.
With the Alan Brown Stakes now added to his résumé, Formal Display has firmly established himself among the leading hopes for Sydney’s rich spring feature. Bookmakers reacted swiftly, with Ladbrokes cutting his 2026 The Big Dance odds from $8 into $6 following the upset victory.
The Big Dance 2026 Odds
| 1. Gringotts | ||
| 2. Formal Display | ||
| 3. Magnatear | ||
| 4. Midnight Dynamite | ||
| 5. Perfumist |
Having won eight of his 19 starts and with a carefully mapped-out campaign still unfolding, Formal Display heads towards The Big Dance with momentum on his side and the profile of a horse capable of making a serious impact on Sydney’s lucrative Melbourne Cup Day feature.
