Forbidden Fire

The horse is trained by Andrew Balding at Kingsclere in Hampshire, one of Britain's most successful yards. Balding's operation has already sent out 202 winners this season alone, so Forbidden Fire is part of a stable firing on all cylinders. That kind of prolific record speaks to the quality and consistency of the yard's preparation. For a two-year-old to come straight out and win both its races suggests either genuine natural ability, excellent training, or both — and with a trainer of Balding's calibre behind it, there's good reason to think Forbidden Fire belongs in better company than it has faced so far. The immediate next step will be racing against tougher opposition and seeing whether this young horse can keep finding the winning post when the bar gets raised. For now, though, it remains a bright early prospect with something to prove at a higher level.