Probabeel came out ahead of Funstar again in Saturday’s Epsom Handicap (1600m) at Randwick.
Probabeel enjoyed a trouble free run to the home turn, despite being forced to race wide in the big field.
Able to come though between horses she edged out Funstar in a driving finish to post her second win at the highest level in what is traditionally one of the most competitive handicaps on the Australian calendar.
Probabeel completed a memorable day for trainer Jamie Richards, who was at Hastings in New Zealand’s North Island, to watch Melody Belle defeat stablemate Avantage in the Group 1 Windsor Park Plate.
Probabeel and Funstar have enjoyed some good sport of late Funstar, Probabeel defeating Funstar in the Gr1 Surround Stakes earlier this year after finishing behind Funstar in the Gr1 Flight Stakes and Gr2 Tea Rose Stakes last spring.
Probabeel is one of 20 Gr.1 winners for Gr1 Cox Plate winner Savabeel (Zabeel) who has Gr.1 winners Savvy Coup and Brambles out of mares by Pins. Probabeel’s granddam is by Centaine (Century) and Savabeel has Gr1 winners Brambles and Embellish with Centaine as their maternal grandsire.
Probabeel’s dam Far Fetched (Pins) won three races and finished third in the Gr.3 Lowland Stakes at Hastings. She is a three-quarter sister to Gr2 MRC Thousand Guineas Prelude and Gr.3 Manfred Stakes winner Legless Veuve (Pins) and the Gr3 Mannerism Stakes at Caulfield winner and Group 1 WRC Telegraph Handicap at Trentham runner-up Tootsie (Pins), herself the dam of New Zealand Gr2 winner Ocean Emperor (Zabeel).
The granddam Beyond (Centaine) won four races in New Zealand and is also a sister to Eudora (Pins), the dam of Gr1 Queensland Oaks winner Savvy Coup (Savabeel).
Probabeel’s third dam Hyades (O’Reilly) was unraced and a half-sister to Listed Counties Bowl winner La Rose Noir (Centaine), the dam of Listed P.J. Bell Handicap at Randwick winner Espurante (Flying Spur), herself the dam of Flemington Lexus Hybrid winner Jennifer Lynn (High Chaparral).
The fourth dam Habania (Habat) won seven races in Australia and finished third in the Gr3 Autumn Stakes at Caulfield.