Probabeel claims second Horse of the Year title

[Wandering Eyes]

Probabeel (NZ) (Savabeel) has retained her New Zealand Thoroughbred Horse of the Year title.

The gifted galloper, who is now preparing for life as a broodmare, gained more than half of the 57 votes cast for the 2021-22 Horse of the Year.

The Horse of the Year results were announced at a dinner in Hamilton on Sunday night.

Central Districts trainer Kevin Myers, who has had a long and remarkable career, received the prestigious award for Outstanding Contribution to Racing and Paul O’Sullivan, who followed a stellar New Zealand career with a lengthy training stint in Hong Kong, earned the Outstanding Global Achievement award.

The NZ Horse of the Year title award was introduced in 1971 and Probabeel is the 10^th 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.

It is also the sixth successive year that a mare has taken the top prize, with Probabeel following her fellow dual winners Melody Belle and Bonneval.

Probabeel was prepared at Matamata by Te Akau Racing 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.

The Savabeel mare had only four rivals when winning the A$1 million Gr.1 Might And Power Stakes (2000m) at the Melbourne spring carnival but beat subsequent Caulfield Cup runner-up Nonconformist, with glamour galloper Zaaki third. At her previous start, Probabeel had split Zaaki and Cantala Stakes winner Superstorm in the Gr.1 Underwood Stakes (1800m).

Probabeel had begun her campaign by winning the Gr.3 Cockram Stakes (1200m) with 60kg and was beaten by just 1.2L when fifth in the Gr.1 Rupert Clarke (1400m). At her only other spring start she finished fifth in the Cox Plate, albeit it well beaten, on a track that was softer than she preferred.

She won the Gr.3 Belmaine Stakes (1200m) 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 raced by Cambridge Stud proprietors Brendan and Jo Lindsay, will be mated with the Cambridge Stud sire Almanzor this year.

She was bred by Waikato Stud’s Garry Chittick and was a $380,000 buy for David Ellis as a yearling. The Lindsays had been the underbidders at Karaka and subsequently bought her outright.

Brendan and Jo Lindsay with Racing Minister Kieran McAnulty celebrate Probabeel at the Horse Of The Year Awards on Sunday night. Photo: Nicole Troost

The Lindsays won six Group One races across the season and took the Owner of the Year award for the third successive year. Their New Zealand-based team won 30 races and also included dual Group 3 winner Sword of State and Karaka 2yo Million winner Dynastic.

Probabeel had a 20-vote margin over her nearest rival in Horse of the Year voting and dominated voting for the middle-distance category. However, six other horses received at least one vote for HOY, headed by champion jumper The Cossack, with 10 and Levante with nine. Imperatriz, Coventina Bay, Pinarello and Roch ‘N’ Horse also had their supporters.

Levante (NZ) (Proisir), who recorded two wins, second and a fourth from her four starts in Gr.1 company, was a clear winner in the Sprinter-Miler category and dual Gr.1 winner Imperatriz (I Am Invincible) dominated the voting in the three-year-old section.

Maven Belle (NZ) (Burgundy), a stablemate of Imperatriz and Probabeel, added to a good night for Te Akau Racing when named Champion Two-Year-old.

The Chosen One (NZ) (Savabeel), a winner of the Gr.2 Thorndon Mile at Trentham, also measured up to the leading Australian stayers and was named Champion Stayer for the third successive year. He ran third in the weight-for-age Gr.1 Tancred Stakes, was runner-up in the Herbert Power and fifth in the Melbourne Cup.

The Chosen One, who earned $2.6 million in stakes, will begin his stud career this year, at Highview Stud.

Premiership winner Michael McNab was Jockey of the Year while Jamie Richards (Trainer) and Shaun Phelan (Jumps Jockey) were so dominant in their categories that they were the sole finalists.

Te Akau’s Nicole Shailer was named Stablehand of the Year and Trackside’s Aidan Rodley took the media award.

The full results were:

SENZ NZ Horse of the Year: Probabeel (30 votes).

Also: The Cossack (10), Levante (9), Imperatriz (5), Coventina Bay (1), Pinarello (1), Roch ‘N’ Horse (1),

NZTR Award for Outstanding Contribution to Racing: Kevin Myers.

NZTR Award for Outstanding Global Achievement: Paul O’Sullivan.

Champion Two-Year-Old: Maven Belle (51 votes).

Other finalists: Dynastic (3), Wolverine (3), Lickety Split.

Champion Three-Year-Old: Imperatriz (48 votes).

Other finalists: Noverre (3), Pinarello (3), La Crique (2), Belle En Rouge (1), Asterix, Self Obsession, Sword Of State, The Perfect Pink.

Champion Sprinter-Miler: Levante (44).

Other finalists: Roch ‘N’ Horse (8), Entriviere (3), Callsign Mav (1), Two Illicit (1), Mascarpone.

Champion Middle Distance Horse: Probabeel (49).

Other finalists: Coventina Bay (9), Savy Yong Blonk, Tiptronic.

Champion Stayer: The Chosen One (33).

Other finalists: Concert Hall (22), Uareastar (3).

Champion Jumper:  The Cossack (54).

Other finalists: Tallyho Twinkletoe (4), Argyll, No Tip, Te Kahu.

Jockey of the Year: Michael McNab (52).

Other finalists: Opie Bosson (5), Lisa Allpress, Craig Grylls.

Jumps Jockey of the Year: Shaun Phelan (only finalist).

Trainer of the Year – sponsored by Dunstan: Jamie Richards (only finalist).

Owner of the Year – sponsored by TAB NZ: Brendan & Jo Lindsay Partnership (40).

Other finalists: Trelawney Thoroughbreds (12), Joan Egan (2), Gerry Harvey (1), Valachi Downs (1), Waikato Stud (1), Archer Equine Investments, John & Jan Cassin, Markwood Lodge, Graeme Rogerson.

LOVERACING.NZ Award for Contribution in Media, Digital & Content: Aidan Rodley

Other Finalists: Cambridge Stud/Roger Laxon, Kirsty Lawrence.

NZ Stablehand of the Year – sponsored by New Zealand Equine Academy: Nicole Shailer (employed by Mark Walker).

Other finalists: Caitlin Bills (Kevin Gray), Melissa Douglas (Sally McKay).

Jockeys’ Premiership: Michael McNab.

Trainers’ Premiership: Jamie Richards.

Owners’ Premiership: Brendan & Jo Lindsay.

Apprentice Jockeys’ Premiership: Joe Kamaruddin.

Newcomer To Training – sponsored by gavelhouse.com: Michael House.

NZB Filly of the Year: Belle En Rouge & Self Obsession.

• NZTR

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