Probabeel (NZ) Powers to Third Group One

A stellar field of proven Group One stars lined up in Saturday’s A$500,000 Group One Lamaro’s Sth Melbourne Futurity Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield, but they were no match for Probabeel (NZ) (Savabeel).

The world-class Karaka graduate exploded out of an awkward position, adding a third Group One title to a trophy cabinet that also features last year’s Surround Stakes (1400m) and Epsom Handicap (1600m) in Sydney. Bought for $380,000 from Book 1 of Karaka 2018, Probabeel has now earned more than $3 million in stakes.

The four-year-old daughter of champion Kiwi sire Savabeel went into the Futurity Stakes as a highly respected contender after resuming with a strong lead-up victory in the Group Three Geoffrey Bellmaine Stakes (1200m) two weeks ago.

But she faced a difficult task from a wide draw, and her prospects dimmed in the early stages of the race as jockey Damian Lane had to use up some energy trying to take a forward position inside the first 150 metres. Probabeel then eased back to settle in sixth, posted three wide.

Other leading chances appeared to have enjoyed significantly better runs coming up to the business end of the race, but that counted for nothing in the last 300 metres. Probabeel unleashed a scintillating turn of foot, powering to the front and stretching out to score by half a length from the Western Australian star Arcadia Queen (Pierro). The rest of the field finished another two lengths adrift.

“She was super,” Lane said. “She’s just so good. She’s so versatile. I put her into the race early, then I brought her back. Not many horses can sustain a sprint from as far back as she did. She was just too good.

“What would normally take you 100 metres at least, it took me about 20 today. She’s just so classy and such a pleasure to ride.”

Bought by Te Akau Racing’s David Ellis from Waikato Stud’s draft at Karaka, Probabeel is trained by Jamie Richards for Cambridge Stud owners Brendan and Jo Lindsay. She has now had 21 starts for 10 wins and six placings, and Saturday’s Futurity Stakes was her seventh win at black-type level.

Along with her three Group One triumphs in Australia, Probabeel has also starred on home soil with an unprecedented double in the $1m Karaka Million 2YO (1200m) and $1m Karaka Million 3YO Classic (1600m) at Ellerslie.

“She is right up there with the best that we have trained,” Richards said on Saturday. “She is a wonderful mare.

“It was an absolutely incredible win. She was caught wide from an awkward draw. We thought we might be a chance to get one off the fence, but Frosty (Lane) wasn’t able to find that spot and she sat deep. But when she quickened, she really let go.

“I’d like to give a big thank you to Ashley Handley, who is over there and has spent much of the last 12 months travelling around Australia with her. It’s a real team effort.

“I am so thrilled for Brendan and Jo Lindsay, who have been such big supporters of the New Zealand Thoroughbred industry and buying Cambridge Stud. They go to the yearling sales and buy nice fillies to add to their broodmare band.”

Probabeel will now be aimed at the A$5m All-Star Mile (1600m) at Moonee Valley on March 13.

“Three weeks now into the All-Star Mile has always been the plan,” Richards said. “She got a lot of confidence from that win a fortnight ago, and I am big believer in that.

“The best thing about her is she is getting better as she gets older, and I think that is a really good trait in New Zealand-bred horses. She is by our champion sire Savabeel, from a really good Waikato Stud family, bred by Mark Chittick and sold at Karaka to David Ellis.”

Vendor	Waikato Stud Ltd
Purchaser	Mr DC Ellis (Te Akau)
Breeding	Savabeel – Far Fetched
Sale	Lot 203, 2018 Book 1, $380,000
Bred by	G J Chittick