Sheridan keeps it simple on Formous The 13 runners split into two groups in the opener at Naaa, the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden over six furlongs, and it was Formous who came out on top on the stands’ side. Fifth when favourite over course and distance in August, Joseph O’Brien’s grey daughter of Starman, owned by Eleanora Kennedy and Ronan Hurley, went straight from her draw in stall 13 and readily left three rivals behind on her side with over two furlongs to race. As the stagger unwound inside the final furlong, the 3/1 joint-favourite mount emerged as the overall leader and scored by two and a quarter lengths from Ita Florence. “I knew I was probably only going to have Donagh (O’Connor) on my side to give me a lead,” said winning rider Joey Sheridan. “I was half toying with going over. Joseph made it simple for me, he just said ‘don’t do anything wild, you’re just going to have to follow what you can’. “She came forward an awful lot from the first day and was very professional. She jumped and travelled and settled when she got cover. “She had to do it the hard way, obviously, in the last two furlongs. She was there plenty soon. “I was conscious of the horses on the far side, I didn’t want them to get a length on me. She was good and strong through the line.” When asked if he thought he was a bit behind at halfway, he added “That’s maybe the camera angle. “She did have to go and win her race, at the same time. I felt like I was getting a length on them from the furlong pole home. She was strong through the line and took a bit of pulling up. “The more racing she gets, the better she’ll be. She really likes that ground as well.” Additional reporting by Gary Carson
