Formidable showed a great turn of foot, plus plenty of tenacity, before her number could be posted as the winner of the Go Green Handicap at Flemington.

After leading for most of the trip she had to dig deep to with hold the challenges of Panzanella and Vicario, both were closing rapidly.

This was her second win in 11 starts for the owners, Barry and Midge Griffiths, and possibly her last as she goes under the hammer at the Great Southern Sale, at the Inglis complex, Oaklands Junction.

The owners are having an amazing run of success with their horses trained out of Flemington by the cousins, Mathew Ellerton and Simon Zahra.

Formidable was the best backed horse in the race, coming in from almost half her opening quote to start at $8.50.

After her narrow win she had to survive a protest lodged by Nick Hall, the rider of the second horse, Panzanella.

The favourite, Prettyhappyaboutit, didn’t run on as well as expected, she was a beaten horse a fair way out.

Formidable winning the Go Green Handicap

The win completed a winning double for the stable, and apprentice jockey, Damian Lane, who has settled in well since coming over from Perth.

He is a true professional with a lot of talent, he positions his mounts well in running, he is a likeable young man with a good future ahead of him, and riding for a stable that is giving him opportunities.

Damian Lane with Mathew Ellerton