New Zealand filly Probabeel (NZ) (Savabeel) returns to the scene of her best Australian performance with a sense of unfinished business when she tackles the Gr.1 Surround Stakes (1400m) at Randwick.
The three-year-old is arguably unlucky not to have snared the Gr.2 Tea Rose Stakes over Saturday’s 1400-metre course in the spring when she was momentarily held up for a run and charged late to fail by a nose to overhaul Funstar (Adelaide).
She was unsuited by a wet track next time out in the Gr.1 Flight Stakes (1600m) when Funstar had her measure but back on a firm surface on Saturday, Probabeel gets an ideal opportunity to turn the tables on the Surround favourite.
“I think that was probably her best run in the Tea Rose,” trainer Jamie Richards said.
“That was 1400 metres on good ground and I think we’re going to get the same sort of conditions on Saturday.
“Funstar did seem to appreciate getting her toe into the ground a little bit, which I’m sure will happen again at some stage. It’s bound to rain.
“But if she can run up to that form she is going to be right in the thick of it.”
La Bella Diosa (NZ) (So You Think) was the last New Zealand-trained filly to win the Surround three years ago before the race was elevated from Group Two to Group One status.
The Richards-trained Te Akau Shark (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle) is the favourite to win the Gr.1 Chipping Norton Stakes (1600m), the other Group One race on the Randwick card.
