Ellalong trainer Michael Formosa has been rewarded for a crunch decision to send Doubledelightbrigade to Queensland after the mare powered to a fourth consecutive win at Albion Park on Saturday night.
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The five-year-old took her earnings since the rushed move to just shy of $30,000 with trainer-driver Grant Dixon.
She had eight wins and 21 placings in 52 starts for Formosa, who brought her from New Zealand and syndicated the ownership. His wife, Kristy, remains a part-owner.
Formosa sent Doubledelightbrigade north when a return to regional COVID-19 restrictions in NSW was flagged after the second wave of cases his Sydney.
"We thought if we were stuck racing at Newcastle, we're actually going to be racing harder horses, like The Black Prince, Pitch Perfect, Royal Gamble, Mister Brazil, for less money than we'd be racing for in Queensland," Formosa said. "I had a very small window of opportunity on a Sunday afternoon to get her to the horse transport before the border shut."
"And Queensland has always been a happy hunting ground for NSW horses, especially in the winter."
Formosa had great success in Queensland with his champion, Ultimate Art, when he struggled to find suitable races for the group 1 winner late in his career.
At Newcastle on Friday night, Formosa drove the Lettucefireharvey to victory for trainer Greg Frazer.
Tom Ison had a double at the meeting with The Choreographer and Motu Sapphire to move within one of Newcastle drivers' premiership leader Blake Hughes with one meeting, this Friday night, remaining in the season.
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