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Probabeel flies the flag for Savabeel at Randwick
Jamie Richards described Saturday as the ‘best day of his racing career’ after he saddled a Group 1 double at Randwick with the first coming when star filly Probabeel (3 f ex Far Fetched by Pins) landed the Surround Stakes (Gr 1, 1400m) and in the process became Group 1 winner number 19 for the Waikato Stud-based sire Savabeel (Zabeel).
Funstar (Adelaide), who beat Probabeel into second in the Flight Stakes (Gr 1, 1600m) in October, got to the front 100 metres out but the daughter of Savabeel kept coming to edge her out by a long head.
The filly is raced by Brendan and Jo Lindsay, who own New Zealand's Cambridge Stud.
"I thought we were in a spot of bother on the corner, she was under the pump, but to her credit she really found the line well and she's a very exciting filly," Richards said.
"I knew she had to be somewhere near her absolute best in a good-quality race like this but full credit to the team at home for sending her over in such good order.
"I'm so thrilled to get a winner in these colours for Brendan and Jo.
"She's going to improve a bit further again as soon as we get up in trip. She'll go to the Phar Lap then into the Vinery. She's got a Group 1 now."
Purchased by David Ellis for NZ$380,000 at the New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka Yearling Sale - Book 1, Probabeel is out of three-time winner Far Fetched (Pins).
The filly’s third dam is Hyades (O’Reilly) who produced Group 2 winner Legless Veuve (Pins) and Group 3 winner Tootsie (Pins) with the latter the dam of Group 2 winner Ocean Emperor (Zabeel). Hyades also foaled Eudora (Pins) who in turn is the dam of dual Group 1 winner Savvy Coup (Savabeel), who is bred on the same cross as Probabeel, and she was purchased by Tom Magnier and James Bester for $1 million at last year’s Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale on the Gold Coast.
The victory also brought up Pins’ (Snippets) sixth Group 1 winner as a broodmare sire with the filly becoming the third elite level winner on this cross, joining the aforementioned Savvy Coup and Brambles.
Savabeel’s domination on the track in the southern hemisphere translated in the sales ring in January with 58 yearlings by the sire realising a whopping NZ$14,340,000 during Karaka Book 1, selling at average of NZ$247,241 and he has three lots catalogued to sell at the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale which gets underway on Sunday, while he has eight lots set to sell at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale in April.
Richards’ day was hit new heights later on in the afternoon when Te Akau Shark (Rip Van Winkle) followed up his victory in the Waikato Sprint (Gr 1, 1400m) with another fine performance to win the Chipping Norton Stakes (Gr 1, 1600m). Te Akau Shark’s Redwood (High Chaparral) half-brother will go through the ring at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale and is catalogued as Lot 343.
