Sheza Alibi has stamped herself as one of Australia’s best with a demolition job in the Makybe Diva Stakes at Flemington.
The Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman -trained mare became the first female galloper to win the Makybe Diva since the race attained Group 1 status in 2013.
Sent out the $1.60 favourite under Luke Nolen, Sheza Alibi raced away to a 2-¾ length win from Autumn Boy ($20) with Another Wil ($101) a neck away third.
The race panned out perfectly for Sheza Alibi who began well on Saturday which allowed Nolen to ride the mare closer to the speed.
Coleman said Sheza Alibi can be a little slow to jump, as she was when devastating in the Doncaster Mile at Randwick in April and again first-up when she drew an inside gate when second to Autumn Glow in the Winx Stakes at Randwick.
“She began better today, she put herself there, travelled sweetly,” Coleman said.
“It was a beautiful ride by from Luke and he had her in that position where she was going to be able to get mobile when he needed to.
“She loves defying history, this girl, and I think she’s going to continue to do it as her career progresses.
“She looked like she did that quite easily today, which is incredible, when you look at the horses that she was up against.
“She is very, very special and it means so much to our stable.
Coleman said Sheza Alibi was a physically improved mare from the one that that was successful twice at Group 1 level last season.
“She’s probably come back more of a finished product this time around,” Coleman said.
“She’s always been a lovely horse to look at, but she has developed, is bigger and stronger and hopefully we continue to see that.”
With the Cox Plate at Flemington this year, Coleman was asked if that race was in the plans for Sheza Alibi.
But with $10 million on offer in The Golden Eagle (1500m) at Randwick a week later, Coleman said that contest was still appealing.
“I would say we’re still geared towards the Golden Eagle but never make decisions on race day,” she said.
Nolen, who partnered Black Caviar in the majority of her 25 victories and has been associated with many of Moody’s top Group 1 performers, said he does not know where Sheza Alibi could eventually get to.
“We don’t know her ceiling yet, so that’s the exciting part of it,” Nolen said.
“Outwardly she doesn’t stand out, even as a trackworker she doesn’t stand out, but she’s all racehorse.”
