Australia: Probabeel sharp for bid at rich All-Star Mile

With consecutive group stakes wins in sprints in the last five weeks, Probabeel is in the best form of her already accomplished career – and among the favorites to win her richest race in Saturday’s $3.85 million All-Star Mile at Moonee Valley Racecourse in Melbourne, Australia.

The All-Star Mile field is determined by a vote of racing fans, and Probabeel’s consistency has put her at the top of the list of contenders. Trained by Jamie Richards of New Zealand, Probabeel has won 10 of 21 starts, including seven stakes in New Zealand and Australia.

In the Group 1 Futurity Stakes at seven furlongs on Feb. 20 at Caulfield Racecourse, the 4-year-old Probabeel closed from sixth in a field of nine to win by a half-length over Arcadia Queen, who is part of the All-Star Mile field.

Probabeel was 3-1 in early betting Wednesday, while Arcadia Queen was the 2-1 favorite. The only other horse with single-digit odds was Russian Camelot at 7-1.

Arcadia Queen, a 5-year-old mare, had an outstanding season in 2020, winning two Group 1 races at 1 1/4 miles – the Caulfield Stakes at Caulfield Racecourse in October and the MacKinnon Stakes at Flemington Racecourse in November. The Futurity Stakes was Arcadia Queen’s only start this year.

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Arcadia Queen is trained by the husband-wife team of Grant and Alana Williams, whose stable finished first and second in the 2020 All-Star Mile with Regal Power and Superstorm.

The All-Star Mile will be Arcadia Queen’s first start at a mile since a win in the Group 2 Western Australia Guineas at Ascot Racecourse in Perth in November 2018. Her effectiveness in recent starts at seven furlongs to 1 1/4 miles suggests the distance will not be an issue.

The All-Star Mile is only half as long as the Group 1 Melbourne Cup, Australia’s most famous race. Sir Dragonet and Russian Camelot, sixth and eighth in the Melbourne Cup in November, are part of the All-Star Mile field.

Russian Camelot was second in the Caulfield Stakes to Arcadia Queen. The All-Star Mile is his first start since the Melbourne Cup.

The All-Star Mile is the eighth race on a nine-race program that begins at 8:15 p.m. Eastern, or 5:15 p.m. Pacific, on Friday. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.

◗ The Group 1 Coolmore Classic for fillies and mares at 7 1/2 furlongs is Saturday’s leading race at Rosehill Gardens in Sydney. Forbidden Love, winner of the Group 1 Surround Stakes at seven furlongs on Feb. 27 at Randwick, will be favored in an open race over Chaillot, who won her 2021 debut in the Group 3 Frances Tressady Stakes at seven furlongs on Feb. 27 at Flemington.

Post time for the $463,140 Coolmore Classic is 12:15 a.m. Eastern on Saturday, or 9:15 p.m. Pacific on Friday.