Group 1 Glory for Karaka Million Heroine

1 March 2020

Two-time Karaka Million winner Probabeel (NZ) adds Group 1 to her CV.
Two-time Karaka Million winner Probabeel (NZ) adds Group 1 to her CV.

A victory at Group 1 level was the only thing missing from the CV of two-time Karaka Million winner Probabeel (NZ) (Savabeel), but she changed that in style in Sydney on Saturday.

Just over a month after making history as the first Karaka Million 2YO (1200m) winner to return and capture the Karaka Million 3YO Classic (1600m), the Jamie Richards-trained filly lined up at Randwick against a star-studded field in the A$500,000 Group 1 Surround Stakes (1400m).

Her opposition included Godolphin Group 1 winners Flit (Medaglia d’Oro), Kiamichi (Sidestep) and Lyre (Lonhro), plus the Chris Waller-trained Funstar (Adelaide), who had beaten her to win the Group 2 Tea Rose Stakes (1400m) and Group 1 Flight Stakes (1600m) in the spring.

But Probabeel came out on top. With Opie Bosson in the saddle, she launched a scintillating finish from well back in the field and got the better of Funstar by a long head.

Probabeel was a $380,000 purchase from Book 1 of Karaka 2018, bought by Te Akau Racing principal David Ellis. She has now earned more than $1.6 million for owners Brendan and Jo Lindsay.

“She’s an amazing filly,” Bosson said. “I got into a pocket and she hit a flat spot, but I’m just lucky that she’s good enough to get herself out of it.”

Probabeel has now had 12 starts for six wins and three placings.

“I thought we were in a spot of bother on the corner,” Richards said. “She was under the pump, but to her credit she really found the line well and she’s a very exciting filly. She had the fitness edge on a couple of these fillies today, and we knew she had to be near her absolute best to win a good-quality race like this.

“We only gave her a light spring and we were always keen on the Karaka Million, the first horse in history to win both of them, so that shows the sort of filly she is. But she’s going to improve again, hopefully, as we get up in trip.

“And, I’d like to give a big thank you to David (Ellis) and Karyn (Fenton-Ellis), who will be watching at Ellerslie. They bought this filly, sold her to Brendan and Jo, and it’s a great story.”

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