Travel paying off for Formosa

Harness racing’s Michael Formosa has enjoyed a good run of success lately when travelling away from his home base in the Newcastle region.

Regarded as one of the best mentors in the Hunter Valley, Formosa-trained pacers have consistently figured in the placings at Tabcorp Park Menangle and Saturday night (Sep. 10) he hopes that his good run continues when he has two runners engaged at the state’s headquarters.

“It is satisfying to have horses that are going well enough to be competitive on a Saturday night,” said Formosa.

“Like any stable, we strive to have horses that are capable of competing in metropolitan races and it is great when they have success there.”

Of late, Formosa’s primary purpose for heading to Menangle is to race his bonny mare Heavenly Holly (Rock N Roll Heaven) where she has performed consistently during the past few months.

She  has won 11 races from 45 starts and the four-year-old has amassed almost $100,000 in stakes.

She will start from gate one in the Club Menangle Norms Daughter Ladyship Stakes and is certain to have support from punters from the ideal draw and an eye-catching run last week when coming from the tail of the field to finish third behind the talented Braeview Kelly for whom she meets on better terms this time around.

“Holly is an honest mare who rarely runs a bad race,” said Formosa.

“She has raced at the top level right throughout her career and is never far away in this grade.

“Braeview Kelly will be hard to beat again while Wainui Creek is another major threat.

“But my mare is likely to enjoy a good trip from gate one which enhances her chances.

“After this she will contest the Breeders Challenge Series so the run will tighten her up perfectly.”

Formosa has Ultimate Force engaged in the opening race at Menangle and he too has drawn gate one so should enjoy a cosy trip.

The gelding has done all of his recent racing in Sydney and has been competitive there, winning three starts back and prior to that placing on three occasions.

“I have always liked this guy, he is honest and tries his best every time he goes around,” said Formosa.

“He is just a notch below the really good ones but is worthy of racing at the metropolitan level.”

For complete race fields, click here.

by Michael Dumesny, for HRNSW