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Sheza Alibi crushes colts in Randwick Guineas as Nolen lands milestone
Mary-Jo Jackson
ANZ News
Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman’s star filly Sheza Alibi (Saxon Warrior) confirmed herself as one of the most exciting three-year-olds in the country with a commanding victory in Saturday’s Randwick Guineas (Gr 1, 1600m).
The filly became the first to defeat the colts in the race since Mosheen (Fastnet Rock) in 2012, producing a devastating turn of foot to defeat Caulfield Guineas (Gr 1, 1600m) winner Autumn Boy (The Autumn Sun) by 3.2 lengths, with Attica (Lonhro) a further two lengths away in third.
The victory also carried added significance for Moody’s long-time jockey Luke Nolen, who brought up his 2000th career win aboard the heavily-backed favourite.
Sent off a $2.10 chance, Sheza Alibi enjoyed a perfect run in transit behind Autumn Boy before Nolen angled her clear approaching the 300 metres. Once balanced, the response was immediate as she surged clear, putting the result beyond doubt in a matter of strides.
“She is just something special, this filly,” co-trainer Katherine Coleman said.
“This was her hardest test to date in a field full of quality horses and she just put them away. We had a lot of respect for the opposition today but what she’s shown us at home is just amazing.
“She’s just got that X-factor about her and a real desire to win. The bigger the fight in the race the more she appreciates it and the more she wants to get the job done. She took a few strides to warm up today but once she got past Autumn Boy she came right away late.
“She’s a special horse.”
The victory extended Sheza Alibi’s record to six wins and three placings from nine starts, while maintaining her perfect record in Group company after earlier victories in the Vanity (Gr 3, 1400m), Sandown Guineas (Gr 2, 1600m) and Angus Armanasco Stakes (Gr 2, 1400m).
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For Nolen, the milestone success carried special meaning given his historic association with Moody, the pair having enjoyed some of Australian racing’s greatest moments together with unbeaten champion Black Caviar (Bel Esprit).
“Every time you get close to a milestone your form seems to evade you,” Nolen said. “But to do it with Peter and Katherine in a Group 1 in Sydney feels pretty good.”
Despite the dominant performance, Coleman indicated the filly may now head to the paddock rather than continue through the autumn carnival.
“She had a deep spring preparation, so the plan was always to keep this preparation fairly light,” she said.
“She’ll head back to Melbourne and we’ll see how she pulls up, but I wouldn’t be surprised if she’s out in the paddock getting ready for the spring.”
Bred by Queensland hobby breeders Fred and Desley Monsour, Sheza Alibi sold as a $10,000 weanling on Inglis Digital to central Queensland-based owner Fred Noffke.
She is the first winner out of Sheza Gypsy (Shaft), a half-sister to a Hong Kong Listed winner who was covered by Saxon Warrior (Deep Impact) during his third of four seasons at Coolmore Australia in 2021 at a fee of $13,750 (inc GST).
One of just two stakes winners in Australia for the son of Deep Impact (Sunday Silence), Sheza Alibi became her sire’s second individual Group 1 winner on Saturday, following the exploits of his first-crop son Victoria Road, who won the Breeders Cup Juvenile Turf (Gr 1, 8f) in 2022.
Saxon Warrior is currently standing in Ireland for €10,000 (approx. AU$16,524).
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Royal Ascot beckons for Joliestar
Chris Waller has put the plans in place for a Royal Ascot raid with Joliestar (Zoustar) and the top-class mare further underlined her claims when landing her fourth Group 1 at Randwick on Saturday.
The five-year-old daughter of Zoustar (Northern Meteor) inched ever-closer to an overseas foray when making it two wins from two this campaign in the Canterbury Stakes (Gr 1, 1300m).
Ridden by James McDonald – who was partnering his penultimate winner in what eventuated as a stakes-race six-timer – Joliestar settled just off the pace and produced her customary strong finish to head a remarkable trifecta for Waller, with stablemates Beiwacht (Bivouac) and Lady Shenandoah (Snitzel) filling the placings in the $750,000 feature.
“It was a beautiful ride. She had a nice draw, so everything set up well,” said Waller, who was winning the Canterbury Stakes for the first time. “She’s come back really well, she’s a more mature horse. She knows her job and just does it well.”
Waller will be seeking his second win at the prestigious meeting having saddled Nature Strip (Nicconi) to win the King Charles III Stakes – when it was known as the King’s Stand Stakes – in 2022.
The Cambridge Stud-owned Joliestar was electric when winning the Expressway Stakes (Gr 2, 1200m) first-up last month, soundly beating the Bjorn Baker-trained Callabus (I Am Invincible) who franked the form when claiming Saturday’s Newmarket Handicap (Gr 1, 1200m) at Flemington – won by Joliestar last year.
As well as Nature Strip, the King Charles III has been won by five other Australian-trained sprinters: Choisir (Danehill Dancer) (2003), Takeover Target (Celtic Swing) (2007), Miss Andretti (Ihtiram) (2008), Scenic Blast (Scenic) (2009) and most recently Asfoora (Flying Artie) in 2024.
The Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (Gr 1, 6f) on the final day of the meeting has also proved a popular target for Australian runners. Should the mare be aimed at that 1200-metre Group 1, she would be seeking to become the third Australian-trained runner to win, following on from the success of Choisir in 2003, while the 2012 edition was memorably taken out by the great Black Caviar.
Cambridge Stud has tasted success in the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes, when their now resident shuttle stallion Hello Youmzain (Kodiac) struck in the six-furlong feature in their colours in 2020.
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“She’s done it again. She’s now won a Group 1 in three different states, that’s an incredible feat,’’ Cambridge Stud co-owner Sir Brendan Lindsay said. “She’s a bloody superstar, isn’t she? She won really well today.
“This year she’s just jumping a little handier and it makes a big difference. When you can just be fourth or fifth rather than getting back like last year when she had no luck with barrier draws, it can make all the difference.
“She’s off to the TJ [Smith Stakes] next and then all going well Royal Ascot, we’re going to have to go and get a top hat and tails!’’
Waller has targeted the royal meeting three times: Brazen Beau (I Am Invincible) was runner-up in the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes in 2015 and Home Affairs (I Am Invincible) finished unplaced in the same Group 1 after accompanying Nature Strip to the meeting in 2022.
The trainer confirmed Joliestar will have one more run in the $3 million TJ Smith Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m) back at Randwick on April 4 before embarking on a trip to the UK.
“We know the date she’s leaving and everything like that, so that’s how far we’ve gone into the program,” he said. “Every race you’ve got to come back safe and do the little things right and keep her good form.
“She will have one more run, that’s the TJ [Smith] back to 1200 metres and then on the plane.”
A $950,000 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale purchase for Cambridge Stud’s Brendan and Jo Lindsay, Joliestar has amassed an impressive record of nine wins and seven placings from 20 starts, with prize money topping $7.1million, making her the highest earner for champion sire Zoustar.
Bred by Chris and Jane Barham, she is the best of six winners from the Group 1-placed Fastnet Rock (Danehill) mare Jolie Bay, herself a sister to both Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes winner Merchant Navy and Listed winner Satana.
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Caballus delivers Newmarket triumph for Newitt
Craig “Froggy” Newitt turned back the clock at Flemington on Saturday when guiding Sydney raider Caballus (I Am Invincible) to victory in the Newmarket Handicap (Gr 1, 1200m) down the famous straight course.
The win was Newitt’s first at Group 1 level since partnering Extreme Choice (Not A Single Doubt) to victory in the Moir Stakes (Gr 1, 1000m) at The Valley in 2016, and the 34th top-level success of his career.
It also secured the jockey outright bragging rights in one of Australia’s most prestigious sprint races, with Newitt now the most successful rider in Newmarket history after previous wins aboard Miss Andretti (2007), Shamexpress (O’Reilly) (2013) and The Quarterback (Street Boss) (2016).
Jumping sharply from the barriers, Newitt sent the Bjorn Baker-trained gelding straight to the lead along the inside rail. The $19 chance proved tenacious late, holding off a determined challenge from Gallant Son (Written Tycoon) by 0.3 lengths, with Angel Capital (Harry Angel) 0.7 lengths further away in third.
Newitt admitted the victory carried added emotion given the length of time since his last success at the highest level.
“It’s been a while,” he said. “To be the most winning rider in the Newmarket, probably the most historic sprint race in Australia, is something I’m very honoured by.
“I was very happy after we’d gone 400 or 500 metres. He pricked his ears and was happy bowling along at his own leisure.
“I probably opened him up a little earlier than I’d told the connections I would, just so I could get a buffer on the favourite [Tentyris]. But he just kept responding.”
The ride came about after regular jockey Hugh Bowman was unable to make the gelding’s allotted weight of 55 kilograms.
“The fortunes of being a lightweight rider,” Newitt said. “I was able to pick him up and I’m just very emotional.”
The 18th individual Group 1 winner for superstar sire I Am Invincible (Invincible Spirit), Caballus is the first stakes winner out of Calming Influence (Commands) and Alma Vale Thoroughbreds will consign her Ole Kirk (Written Tycoon) filly at Inglis Easter as Lot 244.
Anthony and Sam Freedman’s hot favourite Tentyris (Street Boss) was shown clear air at the 300 metres but had much to do and could only manage fifth, beaten 1.5 lengths. It was discovered post-race that Godolphin’s dual Group 1 winner suffered cardiac arrhythmia.
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Paradoxium surges into Slipper contention with Todman victory
Saturday produced a fine few hours for Bjorn Baker, when Caballus’ talented juvenile stablemate Paradoxium (Extreme Choice) thrust himself firmly into Golden Slipper (Gr 1, 1200m) contention after a strong return victory in Saturday’s Todman Stakes (Gr 2, 1200m) at Randwick.
The colt had been among the leading fancies for January’s Magic Millions 2YO Classic (RL, 1200m) following his impressive Wyong 2YO Classic (RL, 1200m) lead-up victory but was forced to miss the Gold Coast feature after contracting pneumonia.
With his recovery initially uncertain, Baker credited his veterinary team for helping the son of Extreme Choice (Not A Single Doubt) return to racing in time to mount a Slipper campaign.
“Full credit to all my team, particularly my vet Allan Frogley and the vets who looked after him up in Queensland,” Baker said. “He got very, very sick very fast and for him to get back here and do that is pretty special.
“I think he is going to improve a heap out of this. He’d only had one trial and he’s got a good two weeks into the Slipper now — and he’s in.”
The Todman has proved a fine breeding ground for subsequent Slipper winners and should Paradoxium line up in Sydney’s prestigious Group 1 on March 21 he will be aiming to become the seventh colt to land the double. The feat was most recently completed by Farnan (Not A Single Doubt) in 2020.
Ridden positively by Jason Collett, the $2.60 favourite went straight to the lead and travelled comfortably before shaking off Hidrix (Extreme Choice) at the top of the straight. He proved strong through the line to defeat Silver Slipper (Gr 2, 1100m) winner Stretan Ruler (Wild Ruler) by 1.4 lengths, with Wolf Gap (Palace Pier) a further 1.5 lengths away in third.
While the overall time was slower than the fillies’ Reisling Stakes (Gr 2, 1200m) won by Chayan (I Am Invincible) earlier on the card, the performance was visually impressive given Paradoxium was resuming from a three-month break.
Baker believes the colt’s natural speed will prove a major asset heading into the Slipper.
“Speed, speed, speed. That’s what we breed for in Australia: fast, strong, tough horses,” he said. “I’ll tell you what, he’s fast and tough and hopefully we’ll find out how strong he is in a couple of weeks.”
Jockey Chad Schofield said runner-up Stretan Ruler was brave in defeat and would benefit from a stronger tempo.
“It was just a trot and canter up front,” Schofield said.
“The winner had a picnic and sprinted sharply. My horse was very strong late.”
Following the victory, Paradoxium firmed to $5 favouritism for the Golden Slipper at Rosehill on March 21, ahead of stablemate Warwoven (Sword Of State) ($6) and Chayan ($9), while Stretan Ruler eased slightly to $11.
Bought by his trainer, Jim Clarke Bloodstock and Ridgmont for $400,000 at the 2025 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Paradoxium’s half-sister by Zoustar will be offered in the Silverdale Farm draft at Inglis Easter (Lot 9).
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Chayan surges into Slipper frame with Reisling Stakes win
Annabel Archibald and Rob Archibald received a timely vote of confidence from champion jockey James McDonald after Chayan’s luckless seventh place in the Blue Diamond Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m) and the filly repaid that faith with a dominant victory in Saturday’s Reisling Stakes at Randwick.
Soon after her unplaced effort in the Melbourne juvenile feature, McDonald contacted the trainer to ask about the filly’s next target. "She will go where you can ride her,'' Archibald replied.
McDonald was aboard at Randwick as Chayan surged into Golden Slipper calculations, accelerating clear to defeat Agrarian Girl (Tassort) by three lengths, with Miss Chanel (Tagaloa) a 0.4 lengths away in third.
"She's a really good filly and I'm grateful that Annabel and Rob put her in the race for me,'' McDonald said.
"They were tossing up whether to run her next week but I was adamant, I'm available for this race please run her here and she justified that.
"She's beautiful to deal with. She's got a lovely, good mind to her, just a strongly built two-year-old that's ready to rock and roll. I'd love her to go to the Percy Sykes instead of the Golden Slipper but we'll see how much pull I've got.''
Chayan broke her maiden at her third start and has now secured a place in the $5 million Golden Slipper. Archibald said the filly had always shown natural talent but endured little luck earlier in her career.
"She had no luck from the draw in the Blue Diamond, she was five-wide all the way,'' Archibald said. "So, to come here today and win a Group 2 is very satisfying.
"We thought there would be a bit of speed and James said he just wanted to blend in and find some cover. I was happy when he got in and she was very strong late. It was a big win.''
Archibald won the Reisling Stakes with Learning To Fly (Justify) in 2023, though that filly fell in the Golden Slipper won by Shinzo (Snitzel).
"Learning To Fly ended up a disaster,'' she said. "Hopefully we can do better with Chayan. She is a very tough filly. These Vinnie fillies can get a bit hot and she was a bit hot in her first couple of preparations.
"If you said to me before Christmas that she would be going to the Golden Slipper I would have said 'no way.' But she has really mentally matured and seems to be getting better with every race.
“The Golden Slipper is very wide open this year so a lot will come down to barriers. The main thing is to see Chayan pull up well as she has the prize-money to get into the race now.''
Seven winners of the Reisling Stakes have gone on to taste Slipper victory, with Estijaab (Snitzel) in 2018 the most recent filly to complete the double.
With Saturday’s victory, Chayan became the 123rd individual stakes winner for Yarraman Park’s I Am Invincible. Bred and sold by Longwood Thoroughbred Farm, the filly was a $250,000 Eric Koh and Falcon Racing at the 2025 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
She is the fourth foal and fourth winner out of Group 3 scorer Lubiton (Snitzel). Lubiton’s fifth foal, a filly by Zoustar (Northern Meteor) sold to Sheamus Mills Bloodstock for $525,000 at the recent Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale.
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Medicinal just what the doctor ordered in the Ottawa
Godolphin’s promising filly Medicinal (Brazen Beau) was another juvenile to confirm her elite-level potential with a stylish victory in Saturday’s Ottawa Stakes (Gr 3, 1000m) at Flemington.
Trained by Ben, Will and JD Hayes, the daughter of Brazen Beau (I Am Invincible) entered the race off the back of a dominant maiden win at Ballarat and she justified her status as the short-priced favourite with a professional display down the Flemington straight.
Jumping from the outside barrier, Jamie Melham allowed the filly to stride forward and take up the running as the eight-horse field travelled down the centre of the course. Asked to extend approaching the 300 metres, Medicinal quickly went through her gears and proved too strong for her rivals.
Sydney visitor Scintillation (I Am Invincible) briefly loomed as a threat, but Medicinal asserted her class late to score by 0.8 lengths. The Grahame Begg-trained Jadiza (Ole Kirk) produced an encouraging debut to finish second, with Scintillation holding third a further 1.2 lengths away.
Speaking post-race, Ben Hayes said the stable had long held the filly in high regard.
“She was very professional today,” Hayes said. “At Ballarat she did a lot wrong but still won by a big margin. Today she jumped straight to the front and travelled really strongly the whole way.
“If you look at her she doesn’t really look like a two-year-old – she’s powerful, has a deep girth and she’s very strong. We’ve always had a high opinion of her.”
Future plans are likely to be discussed with connections, but Hayes suggested the filly could be tested during the Sydney autumn carnival, including a tilt at the Golden Slipper.
“Hopefully we might head up to Sydney,” he said. “In an open Golden Slipper she wouldn’t look out of place.”
Melham said Medicinal was still learning her craft but would take improvement from the run.
“She still did a few things wrong,” Melham said. “She’s got a very sensitive mouth and threw her head a few times, but she’s a nice filly and I think she’ll improve again over a bit further.”
Medicinal has now won two of her three starts, having finished sixth on debut in the Blue Diamond Prelude (Gr 2, 1100m) (F) behind subsequent Blue Diamond Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m) winner Streisand (Magnus).
A homebred for Godolphin, she is the first foal to race from the Hallowed Crown (Street Sense) mare Tisane, herself a half-sister to the dam of four-time Group 1 winner Guelph (Exceed And Excel) and Group 2 winner turned Group 1-producing sire Ghibellines (Shamardal). The family also features Group 1 winners Camarena (Danehill), Bivouac (Exceed And Excel) and Sepoy (Elusive Quality).
Medicinal becomes the 30th individual stakes winner for Darley’s Brazen Beau, whose progeny are headed by Group 1 winners Zapateo, Another Prophet and On The Bubbles.
Grinzinger Heart turns tables in VRC Sires’ Produce
The Ben Brisbourne-trained filly Grinzinger Heart (Toronado) turned the form of her debut fourth in the Talindert Stakes (Listed, 1100m) around when producing a determined front-running performance in Saturday’s VRC Sires’ Produce Stakes (Gr 2, 1400m) at Flemington.
Ridden by Craig Williams, the daughter of Toronado (High Chaparral) jumped well from barrier four and rolled forward to control the ten-runner affair.
Anthony and Sam Freedman-trained favourite Zambles (Pinatubo) – third in the Talindert last start – loomed alongside in the home straight, but Grinzinger Heart dug deep to repel the challenge and hold on for a 0.1-length victory. The Tony and Calvin McEvoy-trained Expensive Taste (North Pacific) worked home well to finish third, another 1.2 lengths adrift.
“We’ve always liked her and were happy to have a go at the better races,” Brisbourne said of the winner. “I said to Craig before the race I thought she’d grown an inch in the last couple of weeks.”
Brisbourne also revealed Williams had been particularly taken by the filly after riding her in trackwork.
“Craig sat on her in a jump-out at Caulfield about five weeks ago and told me he thought she could win the Oaks in the spring,” he said. “Now she’s a Group 2 winner, so there’s only one way to go.”
Williams praised both the filly and her connections following the victory.
“Ben has done a great job with her,” Williams said. “She ran in the Talindert against the early sprinting two-year-olds and today over more ground she really delivered.”
Purchased by owner-breeder John Wheeler for $110,000 from the Lustre Lodge draft at the 2025 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Grinzinger Heart lifted her earnings to $198,975 with Saturday’s Group 2 win, which made her the 49th stakes winner for Swettenham Stud’s Toronado, and, notably, his first Australian two-year-old stakes winner.
The filly is the third winner and first stakes winner from four runners out of O’Reilly (Last Tycoon) mare Veravarti, herself a half-sister to Group 1 winner Sharvasti (Montjeu) as well as to Group 3 winners Bhandara (Zabeel) and Shastri (Stravinsky).
Grinzinger Heart’s half-brother Banjora (I Am Invincible) is a three-time winner from as many starts, most recently landing a Benchmark 72 (1100m) at Rosehill last week.
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