Cover image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
Cambridge Stud's Brendan and Jo Lindsay, the Champion 5-year-old mare's owners, confirmed the news on Wednesday just days after her winning return to the track in the G3 Geoffrey Bellmaine S. at Caulfield.
The Jamie Richards-trained mare was discovered to have a suspensory ligament injury to her off foreleg. The injury is not causing her any discomfort but is sufficient for her to be retired with immediate effect.
Probabeel (NZ) and Melody Belle (NZ) | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
Probabeel was set to take her place in the upcoming The All-Star Mile but will instead return to New Zealand when she is fit to travel and prepare for a career as a broodmare at Cambridge Stud. A mating decision for her will be determined in the coming months.
“While we are both saddened at the news, we are eternally grateful for the unique role that Probabeel has played for Cambridge Stud and our family for the past four years," the Lindsays said in a statement.
"She came on the scene at the beginning of our time at Cambridge and has been a constant flag bearer for everyone. We are sad that it has come to an end but look forward to getting her home and to racing her progeny over the next 10 years.”
"She (Probabeel) came on the scene at the beginning of our (Brendan and Jo Lindsay) time at Cambridge and has been a constant flag bearer for everyone. We are sad that it has come to an end but look forward to getting her home and to racing her progeny over the next 10 years." - Cambridge Stud statement
In a brilliant career, Probabeel won 13 times in 29 starts, winning the G1 Epsom H., the G1 Surround S., the G1 Caulfield S. and the G1 Futurity S. She was recognised as New Zealand's Champion Sprinter/Miler last season as well as Horse of the Year.
She was also placed on four further occasions in Group 1 company, while she amassed a further six stakes successes, including the both the R. Listed Karaka Million 2YO and the R. Listed Karaka Million 3YO Classic, the only horse to complete the feature Ellerslie double.
Over her career, she amassed prizemoney of over $4.3 million, the second most of any of the progeny of Champion Waikato Stud sire Savabeel.
Born for stardom
Bred by Waikato Stud, Probabeel is out of Group 3-placed Pins mare Far Fetched (NZ) from an extended family that includes Group 1 winners Savvy Coup (NZ) (Savabeel) and Never Been Kissed (NZ) (Tivaci).
She was offered through the Waikato Stud draft at the 2018 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale at Karaka where she was purchased by Te Akau's David Ellis for NZ$380,000.
Probabeel (NZ) as a yearling | Image courtesy of New Zealand Bloodstock
Ellis struck a deal with underbidders, the Lindsays, and she was offered to run in the Cambridge Stud colours, in which she has competed with distinction.
Her career for Richards began with a narrow defeat at Te Rapa in November 2018, but she quickly made amends winning a trio of races at Ellerslie, the last of which was in the Karaka Million 2YO where she overcame a wide barrier and swamped past her rivals.
She headed to Australia to contest black type 2-year-old races off the back of that hat-trick and while she wasn't able to add further juvenile success, she did run a close fifth behind Microphone in the G1 Inglis Sires'.
Her spring 3-year-old campaign was also without a win, but she ran second in the G1 Flight S. before heading back home for the summer, again storming home to claim the Karaka Million 3YO Classic in what was an historic double.
Probabeel (NZ) (back and yellow checkered cap) winning the G1 Surround S. | Image courtesy of Sportpix
But the best was to come for the filly, who was able to turn the tables on Funstar (Adelaide {Ire}), who had beaten her in the Flight S., in the G1 Surround S. for her first Australian victory.
Later that year, Probabeel was a dominant winner of one of Australia's great handicaps, the G1 Epsom H., that success coming off her win in the G3 Bill Ritchie H. Then, in the autumn of her 4-year-old season, she won the G3 Geoffrey Bellmaine S. and followed that up by upsetting another Champion mare, Arcadia Queen (Pierro), in the G1 Futurity S.
Arguably her greatest racetrack success was when she took on red-hot favourite Zaaki (GB) (Leroidesanimaux {Brz}) in the G1 Might And Power S. at Caulfield in the spring of 2021.
Probabeel (NZ) (black and yellow checkered cap) winning the G1 Might And Power S. | Image courtesy of Bronwen Healy
She edged through along the inside to defeat Nonconformist (Rebel Raider) and Zaaki to claim her fourth Group 1 victory. That looked a total she was destined to add to this autumn before her injury setback.
Her first suitor at stud will be a much-discussed topic over the coming months, with the Lindsays seemingly having a wealth of options for a Champion mare who is an outcross to most of the dominant sirelines in Australasia.
A success owed to many hands
Cambridge Stud took the opportunity to express gratitude to all of those who have contributed to Probabeel's success on the racetrack.
"Cambridge Stud would like to thank the amazing team that has enabled Probabeel to perform at an elite level for four years, led by Te Akau trainer Jamie Richards throughout that time. He managed to train and minutely plan her path each preparation which, with the difficulties posed by COVID-19, was an incredible feat," the statement said.
"He (Jamie Richards) managed to train and minutely plan her (Probabeel's) path each preparation which, with the difficulties posed by COVID-19, was an incredible feat." - Cambridge Stud statement
"His attention to detail and communication was outstanding throughout and we wish Jamie well with his future training career in Hong Kong.
"Our thanks go to Te Akau's David Ellis CNZM and Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM for being with us on the journey and for offering her to us in the first place; special thanks go to the Te Akau Racing team at Matamata, particularly Nicole Shailer and her team in the fillies' barn; to Cambridge Stud’s Karaka team who looked after her for each spell; in Australia, John Thompson and Anthony Freedman who stabled her for each preparation.
"We are particularly grateful to the team of jockeys who partnered her throughout her career – Opie Bosson, Kerrin McEvoy, Damian Lane and Brett Prebble. She was incredibly lucky to have a wonderful travelling companion in Ashleigh Handley for most of her career and was looked after more recently by Hunter Durrant while in Melbourne."
Te Akau also issued a statement upon the retirement or Probabeel, who was known in the stables simply as 'Jo'.
"The lover of a good track, Jo will remain for now in Melbourne as she is the inseparable friend of her stablemate Kahma Lass – we cannot wait to see her future foals!" Te Akau said.
"Thank you Probabeel for a wonderful career, highlighted by your heart and of course, grit and determination! We will always remember you with pride."
