Probabeel's chances of winning the richest race by a New Zealand-trained racehorse have improved without her doing a thing.
Her key rival and favourite for today's A$5 million All-Star Mile at The Valley in Melbourne is under a darkening cloud heading into the race later today.
Arcadia Queen had originally tightened to favouritism for the mammoth mile after drawing a better barrier (five) than Probabeel (10) during the week but problems started to emerge when Arcadia Queen was found to be one out of five horses lame at a veterinary examination on Thursday, the problem caused by casting a shoe.
That worsened to two out of five during a second inspection yesterday and Arcadia Queen will have to pass a third examination this morning to be allowed to start.
To further emphasis the extent of the concern in her camp, trainer Grant Williams has had front bar plates (shoes) applied to the wonderful mare, which not only is a bad sign, but her peak performances in the past have been when not wearing the front bar plates.