Star mare Probabeel retired

[Wandering Eyes]

Multiple Group One winner Probabeel has been retired.

The reigning New Zealand Horse of the Year and Champion Sprinter Miler was discovered to have a suspensory ligament injury to her off foreleg on Wednesday morning. 

The Jamie Richards-trained five-year-old was a gutsy winner of the Gr.3 Geoffrey Bellmaine Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield last Saturday and was one of the favourites for both the Gr.1 Futurity Stakes (1400m) and A$5 million All-Star Mile (1600m). 

Cambridge Stud reported the mare is well but the injury is sufficient for owners Brendan and Jo Lindsay to pull down the curtain on her stellar career.

Bred by Waikato Stud, Probabeel, a daughter of Savabeel, was purchased out of their 2018 New Zealand Bloodstock Book 1 Yearling Sale draft for $380,000 by Te Akau principal David Ellis.

The Lindsays were underbidders and were subsequently offered the then filly by Ellis, and they have enjoyed immense pleasure racing the mare.

From 29 starts, Probabeel won 13 races, including four at Group One level – Surround Stakes (1400m), Epsom Handicap (1600m), Futurity Stakes (1400m), and Caulfield Stakes (2000m).

She is currently the only racehorse to claim the Karaka Million double, as a two year old and three year old, and over the course of four seasons won and more than A$4.3 million in prizemoney as a fierce competitor on both sides of the Tasman.

“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,” Brendan and Jo Lindsay said.

“She came on the scene at the beginning of our time at Cambridge Stud 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.”

Probabeel will return to New Zealand when she is fit to travel and mating plans for the forthcoming season will be decided.

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