Cover image courtesy of Vinery Stud
The classy-looking filly by Australia’s current Champion sire Zoustar, out of Forbidden City (I Am Invincible) - who herself had success on the track in the famous Trelawney colours - has already caught the eye of Segenhoe Stud’s Peter O’Brien.
With a pedigree boasting a blend of Champion stallions and impressive depth, the filly is one that Cherry Taylor has firmly in her sights to eventually join Trelawney Stud’s racing team.
Forbidden City's first foal impresses
The classy-looking filly by Australia’s current Champion sire Zoustar, out of Forbidden City (I Am Invincible) - a talented and consistent racemare in the famous Trelawney colours, has already made an impression. Born recently at Segenhoe Stud, the filly has caught the attention of Segenhoe’s Peter O’Brien, with Trelawney Stud’s Cherry Taylor expressing her delight over the filly’s arrival.
“She looks like a lovely filly, which we are very happy with. She is the first foal out of a pretty good racemare, who we probably didn’t see the best of her,” Taylor said.
“She is the first foal out of a pretty good racemare, who we probably didn’t see the best of her.” - Cherry Taylor
“She just had a lot of little problems, she won three and was four times Group placed, so she was a pretty good mare.”
Forbidden City was trained initially by Peter Moody, and then by Peter Moody in partnership with Katherine Coleman, registering three wins and ten placings with just over $300,000 in prizemoney. A reliable performer, she collected two metropolitan wins at Sandown and another at Moonee Valley, while also earning placings in the G3 Frances Tressady Stakes, G3 Hong Kong Jockey Club Stakes, G3 Geoffrey Bellmaine Stakes, and the G3 Mannerism Stakes.
Zoustar x Forbidden City filly | Born at Segenhoe Stud
“We are thrilled to bits to be breeding from her. We went pretty deep with the I Am Invincibles and bought about five or six of them, and we are now breeding from four of them, so that was a smart move, as they are pretty hard to get.”
Forbidden City was purchased by Trelawney Stud via Peter Moody, who paid $450,000 for her at the 2020 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale. As Taylor explained, the circumstances of the purchase were unique due to COVID-19 restrictions.
“We purchased her the year that COVID stopped us from travelling, so we were only able to look at the photos and videos etc, and it was actually Peter Moody who looked at them for us, and we ended up purchasing two I Am Invincible fillies and an Exceed And Excel.”
Cherry Taylor | Image courtesy of Trelawney Stud
An exceptional type
While Taylor hasn’t yet seen Forbidden City’s Zoustar filly in person, she trusts the judgement of Peter O’Brien, who had high praise for the new arrival.
“When Peter rang to say the mare had foaled he was very enthusiastic, he said she was an exceptional type, the mare has done a great job.
“Peter is a very close friend and is honest. He is happy to tell us if he doesn’t like them, so to get nothing but praise was very pleasing, as this is only her first foal.”
“Forbidden City is an exceptional type, so it is no surprise to see her leave a nice type,” Taylor said.
Peter O’Brien | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
What’s next for Forbidden City
Looking ahead, the plan is for Forbidden City and her filly to return to New Zealand, but not before she is served again in Australia.
“We like to send our maiden mares, or mares off the track, to stud in Australia and often get them served, foal down, get them in foal again, and then they can come home to Trelawney.
“We will get Forbidden City served, hopefully in foal and then will bring her and her filly back to New Zealand.”
When asked who Forbidden City might visit this spring, Taylor remained undecided.
Forbidden City as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
“We haven’t made a decision yet, but one thing is that it will be a proven stallion. We would rather send her to a proven stallion and stump up, pay the money and go to a proven horse.
“We will be looking at all the obvious choices. I really like Too Darn Hot, but he is quite expensive for us, but he is one of the considerations.
“Off the back of this foal, I wouldn’t be against going back to Zoustar to be honest, but we will make a decision shortly.”
And while the breeding plan is still to be finalised, one thing Taylor is certain of is her excitement at having a filly to join the Trelawney racing team in time.
“I really am thrilled it’s a filly, as it’s another one for my future racing team.” - Cherry Taylor
“I really am thrilled it’s a filly, as it’s another one for my future racing team, much to Brent’s (Brent Taylor) disgust. She will look pretty good in our colours on the track, fingers crossed.”
