Mandella says Forbidden Kingdom possible for Golden Shaheen

ARCADIA, Calif. - Trainer Richard Mandella is planning stakes appearances in the Middle East in coming months for the recent Del Mar stakes winner Planetario and possibly Forbidden Kingdom, the winner of the Grade 2 Joe Hernandez Stakes at Santa Anita on Saturday.

Forbidden Kingdom returned from a seven-month layoff to win the $203,500 Hernandez Stakes at 6 1/2 furlongs on the main turf oval. The 4-1 second choice, Forbidden Kingdom led throughout to win by a half-length over 13-1 Dancing Buck.

“He showed some real fight, the first time in a long time,” Mandella said.

Mandella said the Group 1 Dubai Golden Shaheen at six furlongs on dirt at Meydan Racecourse in the United Arab Emirates on March 30 is a possibility for Forbidden Kingdom, a three-time stakes winner.

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“I’ll be careful not to run him back too soon,” Mandella said. “I think he wants time between races. The dirt sprint in Dubai is an interesting option. It’s just a thought.”

Forbidden Kingdom, a 5-year-old horse in 2024, races for Spendthrift Farm and the My Racehorse partnership, and has won 4 of 12 starts and earned $679,500. He has been sidelined at times in recent years with minor issues such as a throat ailment, colic and a sore foot.

In early 2022, Forbidden Kingdom won consecutive Grade 2 stakes for 3-year-olds in the San Vicente Stakes at seven furlongs, and the San Felipe Stakes at 1 1/16 miles. He was later last of six in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby in April of that year and was diagnosed with a throat issue following that race.

The Hernandez Stakes ended a six-race losing streak for Forbidden Kingdom since the San Felipe.

Planetario, unraced since a win in the Grade 2 Hollywood Turf Cup at 1 1/2 miles at Del Mar on Nov. 24, is scheduled to run in the $2.5 million Red Sea Handicap at 1 7/8 miles on turf in Saudi Arabia on Feb. 25, and the Grade 2 Dubai Gold Cup, a $1 million race at two miles at Meydan Racecourse on March 30.

Mandella has California-based plans for Salesman, who won the Grade 2 Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance at 1 5/8 miles in November but was withdrawn from the Grade 2 San Pasqual Stakes at 1 1/16 miles on Dec. 26 after tying up in the days before the race.

Mandella said on Sunday that Salesman is a candidate for the Grade 2 San Pasqual Stakes at 1 1 /8 miles at Santa Anita on Jan. 27. The San Pasqual is a leading prep for Santa Anita’s top race for older horses – the Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap at 1 1/4 miles on March 2.

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