Probabeel (NZ) Resumes with Powerful Performance

History-making Karaka graduate Probabeel (NZ) (Savabeel) began her new campaign on the perfect note at Caulfield on Saturday, outclassing her opposition in the A$160,000 Group Three Lamaro’s Sth Melbourne Geoffrey Bellmaine Stakes (1200m).

Bought by Te Akau Racing’s David Ellis for $380,000 at Karaka 2018, Probabeel is the only horse to ever win both the $1m Karaka Million 2YO (1200m) and the $1m Karaka Million 3YO Classic (1600m). She later added the A$1m Epsom Handicap (1600m) at Randwick – only the third mare to win the race since 1976, alongside Winx (Street Cry) and Secret Admirer (Dubawi).

Raced by Cambridge Stud’s Brendan and Jo Lindsay, Probabeel has now won nine of her 20 starts and more than $2.6m in stakes.

Saturday’s sprint feature was Probabeel’s first start since October, kicking off over a distance short of her best and with the topweight of 60 kilograms on her back. She was also awkwardly placed out wide without cover in the early stages of the race.

But jockey Damian Lane allowed her to slide forward approaching the home turn, and then Probabeel changed gears in the straight and coasted to victory by a length and a quarter.

“I originally wanted to ride her quietly and then hit the line,” Lane said. “There looked like there would be a lot more speed on paper than what actually eventuated – there were probably two or three there that didn’t go forward, who I thought might have.

“Halfway down the side, I thought I was doing more harm than good trying to go back. So I just let her stride forward, and she had too much on them in the end.”

Champion trainer Jamie Richards was delighted with Probabeel’s return, which was the first step along the road to the A$5m All-Star Mile (1600m) at Moonee Valley on March 13.

“She really stepped up to the mark there today, and it’s very exciting for the whole team,” Richards said.

“She’s got a brilliant turn of foot. She was unlucky not to win first-up last preparation in Sydney over 1200 metres, and then she came out and won the Bill Ritchie (Group Three, 1400m) and obviously progressed to win the Epsom.

“We know she can sprint well fresh, and that is why we kept her to the 1200 metres. We were trying to replicate what we were able to achieve in the spring, and I’m really glad we did that.”

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