| A decision to back up classy mare Forbidden Love after a brilliant feature win last week proved a masterstroke when she scored another win at racing’s elite level in today’s Group One Canterbury Stakes (1300m) at Randwick. |
| After winning last week’s Group Two Guy Walter Stakes, connections of Forbidden Love were originally thinking of waiting for the Coolmore Classic, but a change of plans eventuated. “She just pulled up so well from last week,” co-trainer Michael Freedman said. “I thought we could wait for the Coolmore, draw a wide gate and give weight to the good fillies coming out of the Surround or we could roll the dice here.” “She’s a super mare. Richard my brother brought her as a yearling and we put a great group of people together. These colours have won a few nice races!” Freedman said connections would be in no rush to lock in future plans for Forbidden Love and would allow her to tell them where she steps out next – possibly in the George Ryder Stakes. “We’ll wait and see how she pulls up and whether she heads to be a broodmare later this year or we race on, time will tell.” Winning rider Hugh Bowman said the mare gave him a perfect ride and he was thrilled to secure another Group One. “She obviously won with authority here on rain affected ground last week and I grew with confidence when I took her to the barriers – she was really settled, even though she had sweated up a lot.” “Conditions are tough out there – but she really loves that wet ground and we’re seeing the best of her now,” Bowman added. Richard Freedman went to $150,000 to secure the filly from the draft of Bhima Thoroughbreds at the 2019 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. Already a multiple stakes winner before today’s second Group One triumph Forbidden Love now boasts an impressive record of seven wins and six placings from just 21 starts. She’s already earned over $1.4 million. Bred in South Australia by former world record breaking steeplechaser Kerry O’Brien, Forbidden Love is the fourth individual Group One winner for Vinery Stud sire All Too Hard. A half brother to champion sprinter Black Caviar, All Too Hard is also the sire of Gold Coast sold stars Behemoth, Wellington and Alligator Blood. Dam, Juliet’s Princess, was a smart Adelaide based galloper who won five races and was second in a listed Laelia Stakes for co-trainers Leon Macdonald and Andrew Gluyas. As well as Forbidden Love, Juliet’s Princess is the dam of the multiple Flemington winner Kuramae. There are seven yearlings by Forbidden Love’s sire All Too Hard catalogued for the 2022 Adelaide Yearling Sale on March 15 and 16 and another two in the 2022 Gold Coast March Yearling Sale on March 21 and 22. Winner: Forbidden Love Breeding: All Too Hard-Juliet’s Princess (More Than Ready) Breeder: Kerry O’Brien Thoroughbreds Pty Ltd Race: ATC Canterbury Stakes G1 (1300m) Sold for: $150,000 at 2019 Gold Coast Yearling Sale Vendor: Bhima Thoroughbreds (As Agent) Buyer: Richard Freedman Earnings: $1,446,550 Owner(s): Purple Sash (Mgr: Mrs AC Freedman), CC Pickford, MD Skinner, DP Hassab, DF Hore-Lacy, MD Shaw, Mrs J Shaw, A Krolikowski & Ms SS Bromley Trainer: Richard & Michael Freedman (Randwick) |
