Vinery sire All Too Hard smashed his all-time record at public auction when Forbidden Love was knocked down for $4.1 million at the Magic Millions Broodmare Sale on Tuesday.

Forbidden Love (5m All Too Hard – Juliette’s Princess by More Than Ready) starred on Day 1 when knocked down to Yulong Investments principal Zhang Yuesheng.  Catalogued as Lot 568, she was offered as part of the Newgate Consignment (as agent) for a syndicate that bought her for $150,000 at the 2019 Gold Coast Magic Millions Yearling Sale.

Trained by Michael Freedman, she was a multiple Group 1 winner of the 2021 Surround Stakes (1400m) before returning in 2022 for further elite level victories in the Canterbury Stakes (1300m) and George Ryder Stakes (1500m) before signing off with an unplaced run at Rosehill in January.

“We always knew Forbidden Love was going to make a lot of money with tough competition but she’s a lovely mare,” Yulong’s Sam Fairgray said.  “We were probably getting to the end price-wise but Mr Zhang was adamant he wanted her.  He’s putting his neck on the line and the industry is very lucky to have him.”

The Gold Coast price-tag makes her the equal third most expensive mare ever sold in Australia behind Milanova ($5 million) and Sunlight ($4.2 million).  It also matches the $4.1 million paid for Avantage (Fastnet Rock) in 2021.

Northern Farm’s Katsumi Yoshida was the underbidder two days after his 3yo filly Liberty Island won the G1 Japanese Oaks by six lengths in Tokyo.  The Duramente filly is from Champion Australian Filly Yankee Rose (All American) who was purchased privately by Yoshida as a 4yo mare in 2017.

“Forbidden Love has all the hallmarks of being a top-end mare and Mr Zhang has bought a very rare entity,” Newgate Farm’s Henry Field said.  “She’s a special mare and would stack up at the top of any broodmare band anywhere in the world.”

Forbidden Love represents the All Too Hard – More Than Ready cross which has a 68% winning strike-rate.  Champion Hong Kong Group 1 Sprinter Wellington also carries that nick as does Outrageous (ATC Festival Stakes Gr.3) and the black-type fillies Cristal Eyes and Temptacion.

Yulong Investments also bought Excuse Me (Lot 562) from Vinery (as agent) for $120,000 on Tuesday.  She is a 3yo More Than Ready (USA) full-sister to Group 1 NZ sprinter Spring Heat.