Freedman hopes cream rises to top

Image credit: Steve Hart

By Glenn Davis

Co-trainer Michael Freedman is hoping the cream rises to the top when Forbidden Love attempts to give him his first taste of Magic Millions glory at the Gold Coast on Saturday.

Forbidden Love is in the top three of betting for the $2 million Magic Millions 3YO Guineas over 1400 metres, and arrived safely on Thursday following a float trip from Sydney.

Freedman, who trains in partnership with brother Richard, also has another chance of Magic Millions success when Elaborate lines-up in the Magic Millions Subzero over 2400 metres.

Forbidden Love is a $5 chance in the Magic Millions Guineas, while Elaborate is on the third line of betting at $6.50 behind $3.60 favourite Ballistic Boy in the Magic Millions Subzero.

As a young man, Freedman was a foreman for his older brother Lee, who along with brothers Richard and Anthony, formed a lethal training partnership which claimed just about every major on the Australian racing calendar.

However, the brothers eventually split to go their own ways leaving Michael to eventually head to Asia.

He trained with great success for eight seasons in Singapore and almost two years in Hong Kong before returning to build a stable in Australia in 2018.

Forbidden Love has taken him on a journey to the Magic Millions Guineas which he hopes will see all the hard work pay off.

The daughter of All Too Hard stamped her credentials for the 1400-metre feature with a last start win in the Listed Gosford Guineas over 1200 metres last month.

It was her first start since being placed behind Shout The Bar in the Group 1 Empire Rose at Flemington in October after opening her Black-Type account in the Listed Reginald Allen Quality at Randwick.

“She hasn’t raced for a couple of weeks since she last raced in the Gosford Guineas but she hasn’t had to do much,” Freedman said.

“She’s only had three weeks off since her Group 1 run and she maintained her residual fitness from that race for the Gosford Guineas.

“It’s just been a matter of keeping her ticking over.

“Her form reads pretty well after only going down by a narrow margin in a Group One and her form is good.”

Brisbane jockey Jim Byrne picked up the Guineas ride after James McDonald was unable to make her weight.

“Jim is a high-class rider so she hasn’t lost anything with him on,” Freedman said.

Freedman also believes Elaborate gets his chance in the Magic Millions Subzero.

The five-year-old gelding made his Brisbane debut finishing fourth to Barade in the Shoot Out at Eagle Farm on January 2 and is proven over the trip.

“He’s a good honest horse and is in great order and he’ll go into the race nice and fit,” he said.