Pakenham-trained filly Sheza Alibi has rubber-stamped her credentials as one of the up and coming stars of the Australian turf with a dominant victory in her first test at Group 1 level on Saturday.
The Peter Moody and Kat Coleman-trained daughter of Saxon Warrior/Sheza Gypsy could hardly have been more impressive, making a one-act affair of the $1m Randwick Guineas (1600m) in Sydney.
There was extra cause for celebration with stable jockey Luke Nolen chalking up the 2000th win of his career; a journey highlighted by a close association with Moody’s undefeated mare Black Caviar.
And while comparisons with the great mare are clearly premature, there’s no doubt that the three-year-old has exceptional talent on her side.
“She’s sneaking up; I said that the first day I rode her, they just can’t overcome difficulty in runs and win as easily as she did,” Nolen explained post-race.
“She did that at Flemington, my first ride on her on raceday; then again in the Sandown Guineas.
“It didn’t quite all play out to plan just then, but we ended up with a soft run behind the hardest to beat (Autumn Boy); he dragged us everywhere we needed to be and she grew wings at the furlong. “She’s an exceptional horse.”
Coleman was equally as effusive in her praise; clearly moved by the fillies’ dominance.
“She’s just something special this filly; she’s put the writing on the wall previously but this has been her hardest test to date and to put a quality field away like that…Wowee, I’m shaking,” she said.
“I think that she’s something really, really special and she deserved her spot here today.”
The stunning performance of Sheza Alibi had an immediate effect on spring markets, being backed in from $26 to $11 to win this year’s Cox Plate at Flemington.
Coleman indicated there was a high possibility she would now be tucked away and headed for those spring riches.
“We’ll see how she comes through this; the plan always was to have a pretty light autumn because she had such a deep spring preparation,” she said.
“Her and I will be on the road back to Melbourne tomorrow (Sunday) morning; we’ll take her home and see how she comes through it.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if we put her away now and save her for the spring.”
The Moody/Coleman yard almost completed a perfect 20 minutes of racing when Gallant Son ran a close up second to Caballus in the time-honoured $2m Newmarket Handicap (1200m) at Flemington.
Gallant Son last stepped out in the Group 1 Oakleigh Plate (1100m) on February 21; running third behind Tropicus and Hedged.
