16 Feb 2020High-class three-year-old Probabeel has settled into life in Sydney well and was put through her paces when finishing fifth in a 1000m trial at Randwick on Monday morning on a track rated a Soft6.
The Jamie Richards-trained daughter of Savabeel closed well late in the hands of Glen Boss to finish 2.6 lengths from the winner Con Te Partiro, pleasing her conditioner ahead of the Gr.1 Surround Stakes (1400m) at Randwick on February 29.
“I thought she trialled well,” Richards said. “She got back, which is normal for her, and she got to the outside and finished well under not too much pressure. It was probably on a track that she was not too comfortable on and she does like the better footing.
“Glen Boss was happy with the way she trialled. He said she was a professional that never touched the bridle and gave him a lovely ride.
“She had a decent blow and she has a bit of improvement in her yet. She had a week in the paddock after the Karaka Million 3YO and we wanted to get her over there and get a trial into her. I think it stands us in good stead building into next Saturday.”
Richards believes five weeks between runs with a trial in between is the perfect build-up to a Sydney campaign for Probabeel but he is under no illusions as to how good the crop of three-year-old fillies are across the Tasman this season.
“I thought the Light Fingers (Gr.2, 1200m) was a very good race on Saturday won by Flit with the hood on, and there were some very good runs by the Godolphin horses in behind (Lyre and Kiamichi) and also Funstar will be going into the Surround fresh. We’ve got a lot of respect around her as she beat us twice in the spring.
“If Probabeel can find her form, having been competitive in the spring in Sydney, then we are in with a chance but maybe we will be better suited up to a mile.”
There are a number of options for the Group One-placed filly after the Surround Stakes with Richards to be guided by Probabeel’s fresh-up performance in addition to the fickle Sydney autumn weather.
“I wouldn’t see her getting up too much in trip if the tracks are wet. But maybe if the tracks are better, she might get up in trip a bit further. The way that she finished off at Ellerslie she certainly looks like she is going to handle a bit more ground.
“Her mother placed in the Lowland (Gr.3, 2100m) and she’s by Savabeel so you’d think that 2000m against her own age group would be no problem, and she might even get away with a mile-and-a-half as a three-year-old.” – NZ Racing Desk