Connections of dual Group One winner Probabeel (NZ) (Savabeel) have confirmed a tilt at the A$5 million Gr.1 Cox Plate (2040m) is on the cards for the four-year-old mare.
The daughter of Savabeel was a dominant winner of Saturday’s Gr.1 Epsom Handicap (1600m) for trainer Jamie Richards and the Brendan and Jo Lindsay-owned mare will now bypass the A$7.5 million Golden Eagle (1500m), which is restricted to four-year-olds.
“There were really only two likely options after the Epsom. One was the Golden Eagle in Sydney at the end of the month and the other was the Cox Plate,” Cambridge Stud chief executive Henry Plumptre said.
“The question was really whether she stayed a strong 2000m for the Cox Plate or whether we might be better leaving her in Sydney and running her over 1500m for a lot of money.
“We have made a decision to go to Melbourne, having spoken to Brendan and Jo about it with Jamie’s input.
“We thought she was a bit stiff not to win a mile and a quarter Group One in the autumn. She ran in the Vinery (Gr.1, 2000m) and ran second on ground that she wouldn’t necessarily have liked. It was pretty soft that day, she loves a good surface.”
Probabeel is rated a $17 chance in the Cox Plate in a market headed by Russian Camelot ($3.20).
