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Cox Plate for Probabeel; Short break for Jennifer Eccles; Zahra bullish on Verry Elleegant’s Caulfield Cup prospects
Cox Plate for Probabeel
Connections of dual Group One winner Probabeel have confirmed a tilt at the A$5 million Gr.1 Cox Plate (2040m) is on the cards for the four-year-old mare.
The daughter of Savabeel was a dominant winner of Saturday's Gr.1 Epsom Handicap (1600m) for trainer Jamie Richards and the Brendan and Jo Lindsay-owned mare will now bypass the A$7.5 million Golden Eagle (1500m), which is restricted to four-year-olds.
"There were really only two likely options after the Epsom. One was the Golden Eagle in Sydney at the end of the month and the other was the Cox Plate," Cambridge Stud chief executive Henry Plumptre said.
"The question was really whether she stayed a strong 2000m for the Cox Plate or whether we might be better leaving her in Sydney and running her over 1500m for a lot of money.
"We have made a decision to go to Melbourne, having spoken to Brendan and Jo about it with Jamie's input.
"We thought she was a bit stiff not to win a mile and a quarter Group One in the autumn. She ran in the Vinery (Gr.1, 2000m) and ran second on ground that she wouldn't necessarily have liked. It was pretty soft that day, she loves a good surface."
Probabeel is rated a $17 chance in the Cox Plate in a market headed by Russian Camelot ($3.20).
Short break for Jennifer Eccles
Trainers Shaune Ritchie and Colm Murray were left scratching their heads after their high-class mare Jennifer Eccles finished a disappointing 13th in Saturday's Gr. 1 Windsor Park Plate (1600m), 10 lengths in arrears of winner Melody Belle.
Subsequent veterinary tests have failed to reveal any issues but the Cambridge conditioners are taking a cautious approach with last season's Gr.1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m) winner.
"We took a blood off her this morning but I wouldn't anticipate there'll be anything out of order there, her colour is still good," Ritchie said.
"She's been flexed up and trotted up and we have done all the usual things and at this point we can't find anything.
"She raced flat. It's remarkable, she's the only horse I've seen in my life when they're running a 1:33 mile like bats out of hell and she's fourth and pulling.
"It is what it is, she'll go out for two weeks and then we'll take a look at her at every two week point and make a decision from there as to where we go and what we do."
Zahra bullish on Verry Elleegant's Caulfield Cup prospects
Melbourne jockey Mark Zahra got a feel for Kiwi mare Verry Elleegant when winning the Gr.1 Turnbull Stakes (2000m) at Flemington on Saturday and the leading hoop is confident the daughter of Zed will acquit herself well in the Gr.1 Caulfield Cup (2400m)
"She gave me a nice feel, obviously it's been well documented that she's an awkward ride," Zahra said.
"I think she used to be a lot more difficult, but she seems to have calmed down a lot now. It looks like she might be over-racing but it's not too bad, it's just the way she holds her head."
The mare coped with the firmer Good 3 conditions on Saturday, despite her preference for wetter surfaces, making a sustained wide run for a valiant victory to land her fifth Group One for trainer Chris Waller and connections which include her former New Zealand trainer Nick Bishara and breeder Don Goodwin.
"A lot was said about her on a good track, she'd only won one on a good track, but she seemed fine and she cantered down no worries," Zahra said.
"I think she's no problem on a good track, she's just a lot better on a wet track.
"I don't think I'd be worried about too many of the ones behind me, especially if we get a little bit of rain, so I'm pretty confident heading into the Caulfield Cup."
