Move over Dad – it’s Chloe’s time!

They are two peas in a pod and now harness racing’s father and daughter team of Michael and Chloe Formosa are about to experience another milestone together.

Michael will be taking a back seat at Newcastle this Friday night as he hands the reins over to Chloe who will have her first race drives.

The 16-year-old is well accomplished in the Mini Trotting ranks having competed all over New South Wales, interstate as well as in New Zealand with her father and mother, Kirsty, right by her side.

And it will be the same when Chloe takes her next steps with pacers Ultimate Force and Ultimate Chance, which are both trained by Michael.

“I’m a little nervous to be honest . . . she has had plenty of ground work but she is still a baby in my eyes,” said Michael.

“We all have to start somewhere and she will learn from the experience.

“I was hoping she could drive last week as I had some good chances but unfortunately her licence wasn’t processed in time.

“It’s a shame because I ended up driving three winners and that would have been a good night for Chloe to start with.”

Michael is no stranger to driving winners having steered 1151 in his time and at Group 1 level too with his ill-fated star Ultimate Art.

As a trainer, he recently notched up 800 winners and sits on 804 overall.

Michael trains his team of 14 horses with Chloe at their Ellalong stables.

“Chloe decided to leave school at the end of last year and took up an apprenticeship with me,” said Michael.

“She’s a very bright kid, she was the Dux of the school in primary school but she wasn’t enjoying high school in recent times and the only way she could leave was if she took up an apprenticeship.

“She loves the horses, she always has and has been around them ever since she was a baby.

“We are very similar and it’s been great working with her . . . we both don’t say a lot so some days we just walk around the stables in silence and just get the job done.

“She hasn’t said much about her drives either, she will just go out there and do her thing.

“You can only do your best as parents and we’re very proud of her.

“I’ve always wanted to have my daughter working alongside me and I’m looking forward to Friday even though the nerves are setting in.”

To see the fields for Newcastle this Friday night click here.

By Amanda Rando for Harnesslink