The Richard and Michael Freedman stable is hoping to share the love around when two of its promising three-year-olds head to Rosehill on Saturday.
The pair will be represented by exciting gelding Love Tap, who makes his first foray into metropolitan racing, and Forbidden Love, who is coming off a last-start placing behind star filly Dame Giselle.
The unbeaten Love Tap faces his acid test in the Group Three Gloaming Stakes (1800m) after three dominant wins on country tracks, including an imperious four-length victory at Goulburn earlier this month when he gave weight to older horses and smashed the 1500m track record.
“He’s promising but he has to put his hand up and beat some decent horses now,” Richard Freedman said.
“He’s earned his shot but he has to do it.”
On the strength of his country exploits, the flea-bitten grey with an American pedigree has the unusual distinction of being posted as an early favourite for the Group One Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) at Randwick on October 10.
“He’s obviously got talent but he’s a bit gangly and still a bit of a kid,” Freedman said.
“He’s probably twelve months away from being what he’ll be, but seems to be on the way up.”
American Hall Of Fame trainer Bob Baffert has a half-sister to Love Tap called Fighting Mad who recently won a Group One race at Del Mar in California
Nash Rawiller, who rode Love Tap at Goulburn, retains the mount.
Speedy filly Forbidden Love will line up in the Heritage Stakes (1100m) after a courageous third to Dame Giselle in the Group Two Furious Stakes (1200m) earlier this month.
“Coming back to 1100 metres is the right move instead of going the other way, which most of the three-year-old fillies will do,” Freedman said.
“She has to beat the colts but she is the highest-rated horse in the race.
“When she sees daylight she wants to run. We’d like to draw a nice gate where she could take a sit and conserve a little bit of energy.”
Tommy Berry, who rode Dame Giselle in the Furious Stakes, resumes his association with Forbidden Love having ridden the filly to both her previous wins.
