THE PETLEY REPORT: WHAT A WIN BY PROBABEEL!

By Jack Petley | Sunday, October 10, 2021

What a result for outstanding Kiwi trainer Jamie Richards, the Cambridge Stud owners Brendon and Jo Lindsay and for the Te Akau brand. They were rewarded with two major wins at the Caulfield meeting yesterday and, after Probabeel had landed a narrow win in the Gr1 Might and Power, a cool $705,000 in stakemoney had been gained … kicked off with that narrow win by Kahma Lass, by Darci Brahma in the listed Weekend Hustler.

What a win by Probabeel and a superb rails ride by Brett Prebble. The mare got home by the narrowest of margins over Nonconformist with hot favourite Zaaki, third, and well and truly beaten on his merits., After that shock defeat his odds have lengthened to $2.50 for the Cox Plate while the Kiwi mare has firmed. Richards said the Cox Plate is next up for the winner of 12 from 27. The only thing that will keep her away is a rain affected track.

Kahma Lass (10-1) also gained a narrow win and the 1000 Guimeas winner in NZ last season is now likely to tackle the Cantala in Melbourne. Richards watched the two wins from afar, from his Matamata base, and he rated the wins “absolutely awesome” and paid tribute to the stable travelling foreman, Ashley Handley, who “does such a wonderful job,” he said.

The stable did not have much luck, though, in Sydney, with the colt Sword of State fading to fifth in the Roman Consul won so very easily by that crackerjack colt Paulele, in the hands of James McDonald. The colt was ever so impressive striding away for a handsome win.

Late on Friday the powerful Coolmore Stud named the Chris Waller trained colt Home Affairs as their runner in the $15 million The Everest where Classique Legends holds favouritism at $4 ahead of $5 Nature Strip, $6 Masked Crusader, $8 Eduardo, $11 Gytrash, $13 Home and upwards others.

That was a great finish to the Gr1 Toorak in Melbourne with the rising star, the NZ bred I'm Thunderstruck, by Shocking, holding out a very game Tofane (by Ocean Park) under her 58kgs. Sporting the colours of OTI, I'm Thunderstruck drove through to take the lead inside the last 100 and then held out Tofane gamely under a hard ride from Tye McNeil. Now the rising star will head to Sydney for the $7.5m Golden Eagle and, on his form for the Price-Kent yard, he will take a power of beating. "That was so good today," said Michael Kent. "He didn't get a moments rest in the race and it was a massive effort from a young horse."

And while on the Golden Eagle I see that that rising star in Brisbane Apache Chase will head to Sydney for the big one for trainer Desleigh Forster. He is at $25 in the latest betting.

Looking at other winners at Caulfield - Delphi gained a big win over The Chosen One in the Herbert Power and has forced his way into the Caulfield Cup, but is likely to have a change of rider. Damian Oliver was the winning rider yesterday but the horse has too light a weight for him to make in the Cup. "I think he will be a top ride for someone," said the ace Oliver with Delphi now sitting at $9 for the Caulfield Cup.

The Chosen One turned in a fine Cup trial for the Baker-Forsman yard. He raced wide and was travelling well off the home bend. He ran home hard and strongly and looks in fine order for the Cup next week, a race in which he finished third last year. He looks to be hitting his peak at the very right time.

Other winners at Caulfield … Sneaky Five made it three from three for the Maher-Eustace yard with a return to racing to win in the Thoroughbred Club Stakes for Linda Meech....... Dirty Thoughts gained a strong win in the Northwood Plume Stakes for Daniel Moor and Lombardo looked well above average with a strong win in the Village Stakes and it looks as though he has earned a run in the Gr1 Manikato Stakes. That is also the next mission for winner Savatoxl who saluted in the Schillaci in style and now at $7 for the Manikato.

Hats off to Kiwi Richard Litt and that great win by his superbly bred colt Profondo in the Gr1 Spring Championship Stakes. Litt went to $1.9m to take the colt from the Magic Millions sale and he has been ever so patient with the son of Deep Impact. This was only the third run for the Arrowfield Stud bred colt and he was just too good for his rivals beating the Tivaci filly Never Been Kissed (ever so game) and Alegron with Head of State eased down with a breathing problem Litt, who trains out of Warwick Farm, has been ever so patient with the colt and he will keep it that way saying that he will now ease the star and have him back for the autumn.

Other impressive winners of the day … Lord Desanimaux for South Coast born Tommy Berry and popular South Coast trainer, Terry Robinson, who also had So Say You run a bold fourth in the same race.... Hilal back to form for Team Hawkes in the Stan Fox beating heavily backed Coastwatch with ease and a big win by Aim for Team Snowden.

In NZ, Vernanme won the Matamata Cup for Stephen Marsh … Magic Incanto won the Taranaki Breeders Stakes for Fred Pratt and Gwen Stephani won the two-year-old race at Matamata for Team Rogerson.