Formidable (8 April 1975 – 1997) was an American-bred, British-trained Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. He showed his best form as a two-year-old when he won five consecutive races in little over a month, including the Mill Reef Stakes and the Middle Park Stakes. At the end of the year he was regarded as the best juvenile in Britain over a distance of six furlongs. In the following year he was campaigned over one mile and failed to win, although he was placed in the St James's Palace Stakes, the Sussex Stakes and the Waterford Crystal Mile. As a four-year-old he won three minor races and finished third in the Lockinge Stakes before being retired from racing. He later became a successful breeding stallion.
Background
Formidable was a "robust, attractive, strong-quartered" bay horse with two white socks (on his right front and left hind leg) bred in Kentucky by Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. His sire Forli was a champion in his native Argentina before becoming a successful breeding stallion in the United States where the best of his offspring included Thatch and Forego. His dam Native Partner was a successful racemare and a half-sister to Jim French. She went on to become an influential broodmare with her descendants including Ajdal, Noverre, Dance in the Dark and Dance Partner.
As a yearling Formidable was offered for sale and bought for $60,000 by the bloodstock agent Ray Barnes. The colt entered the ownership of Peter Goulandris and was sent to Europe where he was trained by Peter Walwyn at his Seven Barrows stable near Lambourn in Berkshire.
Racing career
1977: two-year-old season
All of Formidable's races in 1977 were over six furlongs. He made his racecourse debut in a six furlong maiden race at Windsor Racecourse in June and finished second of the twenty-two runners behind St Jills, beaten two and a half lengths by the winner. In late July he ran in the Foxhall Maiden Stakes at Goodwood Racecourse. He looked less than fully fit and was beaten by Vaigly Great a colt who later won the Ayr Gold Cup and the Palace House Stakes. At York Racecourse in August he contested the Convivial Maiden Stakes and finished third to Cherry Hinton and John de Coombe (later to win the Prix de la Salamandre). Ten days after his defeat at York, Formidable recorded his first win at his fourth attempt as he easily defeated a moderate field in the Great Park Stakes at Windsor. A week later he faced five horses in the Linenhall Stakes at Chester Racecourse and won by seven lengths (Timeform reported that the winning distance was nearer ten lengths) despite running very wide on the final turn. He was back in action a week later in the Bradgate Stakes at York and was even more impressive as he led from the start and won by a wide margin a very fast time.
Nine days after his win at York, Formidable was moved up in class and started the 13/8 favourite for the Group Two Mill Reef at Newbury Racecourse. His opponents included Tumbledownwind and Aythorpe (first and second in the Gimcrack Stakes) as well as the Sirenia Stakes runner-up Soldiers Point. He tracked the leaders as Tumbledownwind set a very fast pace before taking the lead in the last quarter mile. He quickly opened up a clear advantage but appeared to falter in the final furlong before holding on to win by three quarters of a length from Aythorpe. In early October, Formidable appeared for the fifth time in five weeks when he ran in the Group One Middle Park Stakes at Newmarket Racecourse. He looked very impressive in the paddock and was made the 15/8 favourite against opponents including the Richmond Stakes winner Persian Bold and Labienus, who hd finished third in the Champagne Stakes. He raced close behind the leaders before going to the front two furlongs from the finish and winning by three quarters of a length from Persian Bold.