4 Sep 2022Our star mare Probabeel has joined exalted company by retaining her New Zealand Thoroughbred Horse of the Year title.
The outstanding daughter of Savabeel, who is now preparing for life as a broodmare, gained more than half of the 57 votes cast for the premier award.
The Horse of the Year award was introduced in 1971 and Probabeel is the 10th horse to win the title more than once. Sunline took the title four times with Show Gate, Rough Habit, Xcellent, Seachange, Mufhasa, Mongolian Khan, Bonneval and Melody Belle the other dual winners.
Probabeel was prepared at Matamata by former Te Akau trainer Jamie Richards, but did all her racing in the 2021-22 season in Australia, as she had the previous year. She had three wins and a second from her six starts, all in group company.
She claimed the G1 Caulfield Stakes at the Melbourne spring carnival and at her previous start, Probabeel had split Zaaki and Cantala Stakes winner Superstorm in the G1 Underwood Stakes.
The mare had begun her campaign by winning the G3 Cockram Stakes and subsequently landed the G3 Belmaine Stakes with 60kg when resuming in Melbourne in February, but suffered a ligament injury soon after and was retired from racing.
Probabeel, who earned $4.5 million in stakes and was also an overwhelming winner of the Champion Middle Distance Horse Award, will be mated with our exciting shuttle stallion Almanzor this year.
We were also humbled and delighted to be presented with the Owners of the Year Award with Pinarello giving us a second Group 1 winner in Australia when he won the Queensland Derby.