Probabeel Caulfield Grp 3 Perfect

Having won two Group One races in Australia, Probabeel (4 m Savabeel - Far Fetched, by Pins)  resumed with a brilliant victory in the $160,000 Lamaro's Sth Melbourne Geoffrey Bellmaine Stakes (Gr. 3, 1200m) on Saturday at Caulfield.

Saddled with top weight (60kgs) and drawn the outside (11), Probabeel also appeared at the mercy of overnight rain, which thankfully never arrived, and benefitted by Good4 footing.

But although the task seemed monstrous, fresh-up after contesting the Cox Plate (Gr. 1, 2040m) in November, the immensely talented Probabeel made light work of it and continues her rise as one of the best race mares in Australasia.

In the hands of premiership leading rider Damian Lane, Probabeel worked forward wide to third at the 800m, was balanced and ready to strike on straightening, before going into overdrive and clearing her rivals a furlong out. It was an all-round performance that left no excuses for her opposition.

Running the 1200 metres in a smart 1:09.6, scoring by a length and a quarter, Probabeel certainly caught the attention of punters closer to race time - rightly so, with a Surround Stakes (Gr. 1, 1400m) and Epsom Handicap (Gr. 1, 1600m) to her credit - and shortened from $4.50 to return $2.70.

“It was a very exciting win,” said trainer Jamie Richards, who recently became the fastest to train 100 wins in a season and took his domestic stake earnings over $4 million.

“I said to Damian (Lane) this morning: “Don't be too negative from the barrier. Give her dig for 50 yards and leave your options open”. And although she sat three deep, that was the right place to be.

“It gave her a chance to win the race, where as if she was back last she would have been no hope. So, I was really pleased the way it all panned out and really looking forward to her campaign.”

It was the 25^thAustralasian stakes success already for Richards this season, seven of those at Group One level, and reflects an upward plane after the Champion Trainer from last season ended the season with 20 stakes wins (11 Group One).

Always first to praise the staff, Richards has entrusted the mare to the experience of Ashley Handley.

“Ashley has done such a wonderful job of looking after her and travelling with her everywhere,” Richards said. “She only came home and out of quarantine for a fortnight and then she was back over there (Australia) again.

“We've got a wonderful team of staff around us which helps enormously in these unprecedented times of Covid, when you can't get there yourself, and it's great for everyone involved to know that no stone is being left unturned.”

Richards said the Probabeel would now head toward the weight-for-age $500,000 Futurity Stakes (Gr. 1, 1400m) on Saturday 20 February at Caulfield, three weeks prior to the weight-for-age $5m All-Star Mile (1600m) at Moonee Valley, where she is currently a $10 third elect with Sportsbet.

Purchased by Te Akau principal David Ellis CNZM for $380,000, from the draft of Waikato Stud, at the 2018 Karaka Book 1 Sale, Probabeel was snapped up days later by Brendan Lindsay MNZM & Jo Lindsay (Cambridge Stud) when inspecting the yearlings at Te Akau Stud, and she has now won nine of her 20 starts, including six seconds, and NZ$2.7 million prize money.

She made history in January last year at Ellerslie, becoming the first to win the $1m Karaka Million 3YO Classic (Restricted Listed, 1600m) a year on from the $1m Karaka Million 2YO (Restricted Listed, 1200m), before winning the Surround Stakes at Randwick, and returned to the course during her spring campaign to win the Epsom Handicap.

“It was an incredible win and just shows that she's come back in outstanding order,” Ellis said.

“I'm thrilled for Brendan and Jo (Lindsay), and Henry (Plumptre) at Cambridge Stud. They all have a genuine love of racing horses and we're so proud to be training this great mare and some other outstanding horses for them, too.

“Cambridge Stud had a really top draft at the yearling sales this year and they do it extremely well at every level. Almanzor, what an exciting sire he is. We've just finished breaking in one here at Te Akau Stud, that we bred, a home-bred out of Corsage (Volksraad), and if it isn't an early two-year-old winner I'd be very surprised.

“Also, I'd like to recognise the fantastic job that Ashley Handley is doing with our horses in Australia. She's a young lady with a lot of ability, really dedicated and committed, and her efforts are showing in the results.

“It was another good day for the stable. Obviously, Probabeel winning at Caulfield is a fantastic result, but Jamie (Richards) took just one to New Plymouth today, Quattro Quinta, and he ran another really good race for second in the Woburn Farm 2YO Classic (Gr. 3, 1200m).”

By NZ six-time Champion Sire Savabeel (Zabeel), from a mare by Champion Sire Pins (Snippets), Probabeel is both a natural and brilliant galloper and always one with the physique to continue improving with time.

Probabeel was strapped by Ashley Handley.