21 Sep 2019A slashing run for second in Saturday’s Gr.2 Tea Rose Stakes (1400m) at Randwick has confirmed to trainer Jamie Richards that he has exciting kiwi three-year-old Probabeel spot on for her major campaign assignment in a fortnight.
Probabeel will tackle the Gr.1 Flight Stakes (1600m) at the venue on October 5 with Richards delighted with how his charge came through her latest appearance.
“We are very happy with her run on Saturday and she appears to have bounced through it well,” Richards said.
“She left half a dipper of feed last night, which was to be expected, but she was very bright in herself this (Sunday) morning.”
Jockey Kerrin McEvoy was also delighted with the run after the Savabeel filly got back on the inner in the early stages before charging home to miss victory by the barest of margins behind the Chris Waller-trained Funstar.
“It was a really good run, a good last furlong,’’ McEvoy said. “Obviously another two or three hops and she gets them.
“She goes out to the mile now for the Flight Stakes and it’s going to be a great race for her.”
From his vantage point on course, Richards wasn’t sure about the final result as the runners hit the finish line locked together.
“I wasn’t sure if we had got there, I was hoping we had, but even though we got beaten it was still a terrific effort,” he said.
“She got back a little further than we had expected but hit the line powerfully which augurs well for the step up to the mile in the Flight Stakes.
“She is going to be very competitive at the mile so as long as she makes the progress we think she will, it is all go for her.”
-Racing Desk