Star Karaka Graduate Probabeel has a Spring in Her Step

Triple Group One-winning Karaka graduate Probabeel (NZ) (Savabeel) began her latest campaign on a perfect note with a victory in Saturday’s A$200,000 Group Three W.W. Cockram Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield. 

The fillies and mares’ sprint feature was the 11th win of Probabeel’s 24-start career. Purchased by Te Akau Racing principal David Ellis for $380,000 from Book 1 of Karaka 2018, the exceptional performer has amassed more than $3.3 million in stakes for Cambridge Stud owners Brendan and Jo Lindsay – almost nine times her purchase price.

Probabeel has made headlines on both sides of the Tasman in her decorated career, winning the Group One Surround Stakes (1400m), Epsom Handicap (1600m) and Futurity Stakes (1400m) in Australia along with an unprecedented double in the $1m Karaka Million 2YO (1200m) and $1m Karaka Million 3YO Classic (1600m) at Ellerslie in Auckland.

Trainer Jamie Richards now has his sights set on the Group One Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on September 18.

“She’s a bit above herself in condition, but I’m really happy with that – it was a good win,” Richards said. “I think we made the right call running her at 1200 metres, and she’ll have three weeks into the Rupert Clarke, which will be ideal. She has to carry hefty weight, but she has an affinity with Caulfield and goes really well on the course.

“She’s back in her routine and we look forward to her next start. It’s great to have her back. It’s been a testing time not being able to race here in New Zealand, so to see her race like that is big lift for the whole team and everyone involved.”

Leading purchaser at Karaka for the past 17 years, David Ellis, commented on the story behind the acquisition of Probabeel by Brendon and Jo Lindsay.

"I sat down with Karyn to devise a plan to syndicate the filly, as she was among 29 we purchased that year at the Sale.”

“I simply had to have her for Jamie [Richards] to train, as she was a stand out in my view and easily made our rigorous pre-sale short list.

“I had a meeting scheduled with Brendon to discuss Cambridge Stud securing the standing rights for Embellish and asked him if he would like to be involved in a promising, well-bred filly.

“He asked me what was available that he and Jo could race, and Probabeel was one.

“It turned out that they were actually underbidder on the filly, so they bought her and we are delighted she is part of the stable.

“I think the win is a fantastic result for so many people the New Zealand breeding industry - she typifies what great horses we breed in this country,” Ellis said.

Waikato Stud-bred Karaka graduates have now made a big-race impact early in the spring carnival in both Sydney and Melbourne, with exciting four-year-old Mo’unga (NZ) (Savabeel) capturing last Saturday’s Group One Winx Stakes (1400m) at Randwick.