The heavyweights of New Zealand racing and breeding joined forces to win the $1 million Karaka Million 2YO at Ellerslie on Saturday.

The winner Probabeel represents Te Akau Racing, New Zealand’s leading training and syndication business, and is raced by Brendan and Jo Lindsay, the couple who completed their purchase of the famous Cambridge Stud from Sir Patrick Hogan only 10 months ago.

Te Akau principal David Ellis has been the leading buyer at Karaka every year for more than a decade and with his young trainer Jamie Richards has now sourced the Karaka Million 2YO winner three years in succession.

Richards trained 2017 winner Melody Belle (Commands) and 2018 winner Avantage (Fastnet Rock) in partnership with Steve Autridge with Probabeel (Savabeel) his first in his own right. All three have been ridden by Opie Bosson.

Probabeel (Savabeel x Far Fetched by Pins) wears the gold and black colours of the Lindsays, who are offering their first Karaka yearling draft as owners of Cambridge Stud this week.

Probabeel was a $380,000 purchase by Ellis at Karaka Book 1 last January and has now won three of her four career starts for $NZ580,500 prizemoney.

The Lindsays were the underbidders and while they missed out in the sale ring they were able to reach an agreement with Ellis after the sale to race the filly.

It was a Te Akau quinella on Saturday as Probabeel ran down her G2-winning stablemate Aotea Lad, also by Savabeel in yet another triumph for New Zealand’s champion sire.

Another Te Akau stablemate Yourdeel (Dundeel) dead-heated for third with the Stephen Marsh-trained Appellant (Showcasing).

Runner-up Aotea Lad was bought by Ellis for $NZ200,000 and has now had three starts for a win, two placings and $NZ246,150.

Yourdeel cost $NZ100,000 and has earned $NZ80,600 in his three-start career to date while Appellant was a $NZ30,000 purchase and has earned $NZ94,250.

Brendan Lindsay said the win was a special result for Cambridge Stud.

“It’s just a dream come true,” he said. “It is great for our business, great for our staff.

“It’s a great story. She’s bred in New Zealand, she’s trained by a great trainer and selected by a great judge in David Ellis.”

Matamata-based Richards was delighted for the Lindsays.

“I think this is awesome for them. Dave bought this filly last year and a couple of days later they bought her,” Richards said.

“They are a pretty important part of our industry now and the most exciting thing that has happened to this game in a long time.”

Bred by Waikato Stud’s Gary Chittick, Probabeel is the first foal out of the stakes-placed mare Far Fetched, a half-sister to the stakes winners Legless Veuve, Tootsie and Eudora), the dam of Savabeel’s G1 winner Savvy Coup.

Far Fetched died in 2017 without producing another live foal after Probabeel.