Sheza Alibi crushes colts in Randwick Guineas as Nolen lands milestone
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).
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).