Wary of the weight scale in the Guy Walter Stakes, Michael FreedmanĀ admits he wasn’t exactly confident that Forbidden LoveĀ could come away with a win at Randwick.
The mare had to concede four kilos to horse the ilk of Doncaster Mile and Cantala Stakes runner-up Icebath under the set weights and penalties conditions of Saturday’s race, but to Freedman’s pleasant surprise, she proved up to the task.
“I’ve got to be honest, I thought at the weights we might have it up against us with Icebath, giving it four kilos, but she is a quality mare,” Freedman said.
Forbidden Love ($7.50) won the Group 1 Surround Stakes at the corresponding meeting last year and again showed her affinity for the Randwick 1400-metre circuit with an impressive performance.
Tracking the speed, she loomed up ominously topping the rise with Hugh Bowman still sitting quietly in the saddle and when he did ask her to go, she lengthened beautifully to score a runaway 3-1/4 length win.
Promise Of SuccessĀ ($8) made late headway for second with VangelicĀ ($10) three-quarters of a length away third.
Freedman confirmed Forbidden Love would be given another shot at the Group 1 Coolmore Classic at Rosehill next month with the Doncaster Mile also on the radar.
“I’m really keen to give her another crack at that then maybe see what happens after that and whether we come back here for a Doncaster under handicap conditions or the Queen Of The Turf (Stakes),” Freedman said.
“We will wait and see but it’s great to see her back in the winner’s circle.”
Longer-term, Freedman believes the mare could also come into calculations for The Everest if she got the right conditions.
IcebathĀ started a $2.05 favourite but jockey James McdonaldĀ said she didn’t show her usual zip on the heavy track, finishing a well-beaten fourth.
“She just whacked away. Second-up on that ground she didn’t come on,” McDonald said.
