Racing
Formosa brothers Not Again and Repeat The Same target Launching Pad final
From the very beginning, Josh Formosa believed he had something special in littermates Not Again and Repeat The Same.
So much so, he secured Launching Pad tickets for the pair before their first start.
The brothers, out of Black Magic Opal Opal and She's Got Wheels, were purchased from Greg Sprod shortly before their racing careers began – a move that is already paying dividends.
"Not Again and Repeat The Same were the main reason we bought tickets to the Launching Pad," Formosa said.
"They went into the series as some of the most inexperienced pups, but they've proved us right in our decision to put them in."
Not Again , owned by first-time greyhound owner and close friend Terry Hagenmuller, has drawn box three in Thursday night's final after qualifying fourth behind Whiskey Whiskers in last week's semi-finals.
His standout performance came in a heat of the series, where he led for much of the journey before being collared late to run third behind Zambora Bliss and Simply Stunning in 29.51 seconds.
Formosa instigated the purchases when the pups were pre-trainers.
Repeat The Same, owned by Ben Peart, will jump from box seven after a consistent series that has seen him face the competition's benchmark, Blue Storm , in both his heat and semi-final.
He finished second in his heat and third in the semis to secure his place in the decider.
"Both are very quick early – that's their wheelhouse," Formosa said.
"They break their races up and put themselves in the contest, but their last 100 metres can see them come undone."
Having only turned two last month, Formosa believes the best is still to come for the promising pair.
"They're going to keep improving with time. They're fast, but they're still learning and developing that strength."
Meanwhile, Formosa and Peart have also combined to purchase Conceivable – a litter brother to Australian Cup winner Dramatical – who lines up in the Launching Pad Consolation from box five.
"He started off a bit slow, but he's really gone to another level," Formosa said.
"He's capable of running around 29.30 – he just needs a bit more time to put it all together."
Check out the latest Sydney News