Probabeel on Target for Grp 1 Flight Stakes

NZ Racing News reports:

A slashing run for second in Saturday's
Gr.2 Tea Rose Stakes (1400m) at Randwick has confirmed to trainer Jamie
Richards that he has exciting kiwi three-year-old Probabeel spot on for her
major campaign assignment in a fortnight.

Probabeel will tackle the Gr.1 Flight
Stakes (1600m) at the venue on October 5 with Richards delighted with how his
charge came through her latest appearance.

“We are very happy with her run on Saturday
and she appears to have bounced through it well,” Richards said.

“She left half a dipper of feed last night (Saturday), which was to be expected, but she was very bright in herself this (Sunday) morning.”

Jockey Kerrin McEvoy was also delighted
with the run after the Savabeel filly got back on the inner in the early stages
before charging home to miss victory by the barest of margins behind the Chris
Waller-trained Funstar.

“It was a really good run, a good last
furlong,'' McEvoy said. “Obviously another two or three hops and she gets them.

“She goes out to the mile now for the
Flight Stakes and it's going to be a great race for her.”

From his vantage point on course, Richards
wasn't sure about the final result as the runners hit the finish line locked
together.

“I wasn't sure if we had got there, I was
hoping we had, but even though we got beaten it was still a terrific effort,”
he said.

“She got back a little further than we had
expected but hit the line powerfully which augurs well for the step up to the
mile in the Flight Stakes.

“She is going to be very competitive at the
mile so as long as she makes the progress we think she will, it is all go for
her.”

Richards could be placed in a unique position for a New Zealand-based trainer on October 5 where he could line up the favourite in three Group One events, with two of those at Royal Randwick.

Along with Probabeel contesting the Flight
Stakes, he will also produce Te Akau Shark in the Gr.1 Epsom Handicap (1600m)
while back in New Zealand superstar mare Melody Belle will attempt to become
the first horse to win the Hawke's Bay Triple Crown when she takes on the Gr.1
Livamol Classic (2040m) at Hastings.

The scenario has left Richards in a minor quandary
about his travel plans for the day.

“It would be something quite special albeit
something of a logistical challenge,” Richards said.

“There is water to go under the bridge
before then but we are just sorting out travel plans and the like at the
moment.

“Obviously the opportunity with Melody
Belle is amazing. However, we need to do what is right for all the horses
concerned so we will work that out in the next few days.”

Richards reported that Melody Belle had
come through her Gr.1 Windsor Park Plate (1600m) success in fine style and had
travelled home from Hastings to Te Akau Racing's Matamata base in good order.

“She looks great this morning and is a
happy horse after the run,” he said.

“We know just what a class mare she is and
Opie (Bosson) looked after her once she got clear of them in the home straight.

“She can have an easy day or two in the paddock
now before we get serious about the last day at Hastings.”

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