Written by Paul Vettise
In a change of plan, high-class mare Probabeel (NZ) (Savabeel) will now campaign in Victoria with the two-time Group 1 winner’s major autumn target to be the $5 million All-Star Mile.
The Cambridge Stud-raced 4-year-old was originally heading to the Sydney carnival, but following discussions between owners Brendan and Jo Lindsay, the farm’s Chief Executive Officer Henry Plumptre and trainer Jamie Richards advised the focus has switched to Melbourne.
Probabeel hasn’t raced since she finished a meritorious seventh in the G1 Cox Plate on an unsuitably soft Moonee Valley track and the weather is again a major factor in the change of direction for her upcoming campaign.
“We’re chasing dry tracks as much as anything else,” Plumptre said. “We thought about the All-Star Mile last season, but didn’t go down that route after she won the G1 Surround S. against her own age and sex.
“We’re chasing dry tracks as much as anything else." - Henry Plumptre
“She’s a 4-year-old now and she’ll go to Melbourne and probably have runs over 1200 and 1400 metres and hopefully she gets an All-Star invitation.”
A star contender
With success in the G1 Epsom H. on her glittering CV – she is also the only winner of the Karaka Million 2 and 3-year-old Classics – Probabeel looks certain to be in the line-up for the richest 1600 metre race in the world, to be run at Moonee Valley on March 13.
All-Star Mile nominations open next Monday with contenders then relying on the general public to get them into the race, with the top 10 vote-getters to be unveiled by Racing Victoria on or before February 19 alongside five wildcard runners.
Probabeel (NZ)
“Obviously, she is a dual Group 1 winner now and with the big prizemoney on offer we would be silly not to go down this path,” Plumptre said.
The Lindsays' familiar silks of gold and black chequers will still be seen in Sydney with G1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas winner Kahma Lass (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}) to chase further top honours.
“She will take her chance over there and see if she is up to the Sydney 3-year-olds. She’ll run over 1200 metres first and then probably into the G1 Surround S.,” Plumptre said.
Pair for Magics
Cambridge Stud’s immediate Australian focus will be on Queensland with two lots to be offered on its behalf by Bhima Thoroughbreds at next week’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
“We’ve got a really nice Sebring colt out of Infliction, a mare we bought in foal to him. He’s a forward-looking type and Sebrings sell well at Magic Millions,” Plumptre said. “We’re also selling a lovely daughter of Almanzor, she’s a really strong chestnut filly.”
Lot 261 is the Almanzor (Fr) youngster out of Empress Cixi (GB) (Shamardal {USA}), dam of the winner and Group performer Manchu (Redoute’s Choice), who is a half-sister to the G2 Prix Greffulhe winner Ocovango (GB) (Monsun {Ger}).
Their grandam Crystal Music (USA) (Nureyev {USA}) won the G1 Ascot Fillies’ Mile and a recent pedigree update came courtesy of family member Firnas (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) winning the Listed Meydan Entisar S.
Lot 399 is the son of Sebring and the first foal of Infliction (Big Brown {USA}), who is a daughter of the G3 Red Anchor S. and the R. Listed Magic Millions 2YO Classic winner Karuta Queen (Not A Single Doubt).
She was also runner-up in the G1 William Reid S. as was another family member, the G3 Mumm S. winner Vain Queen (Artie Schiller {USA}).
