oo busy searching for superlatives to describe Sheza Alibi’s demolition win in the Randwick Guineas, jockey Luke Nolen had to be reminded the filly also delivered him an incredible milestone.
The Group 1 was Nolen’s 2000th career win – not that he was counting.
“Oh yeah, I forgot about that,” Nolen said.
“Every time you get close to a milestone, your form seems to evade you.
“Two thousand wins, a Group One winner in Sydney, it feels pretty good.”
Fittingly, Nolen celebrated the feat with trainer Peter Moody, the pair having enjoyed racing’s highest of highs through their association with champion sprinter Black Caviar.
While Sheza Alibi has a long way to go to be considered in that realm, she is an exciting filly in her own right and passed an important test with her victory over the colts and geldings in Saturday’s Randwick Guineas (1600m), becoming the first filly to beat the males since Mosheen in 2012.
“She is just something special, this filly,” said Katherine Coleman, who trains her in partnership with Moody.
“She 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.”
Nolen had to hold his nerve early as the field jockeyed for positions, but once Sheza Alibi ($2.10 fav) balanced up at the top of the rise, her turn of foot quickly put the result beyond doubt.
Powering to the line, she scored by a widening 3-1/4 lengths over Autumn Boy ($3.60) with Attica ($11) holding down third, another two lengths in arrears.
Despite the authority of the performance, Coleman says they are unlikely to press on further, favouring giving the three-year-old a good break and focusing on next season.
“The plan always was to have a pretty light autumn because she had such a deep spring preparation,” she said.
“So her and I will be on the road back to Melbourne tomorrow morning. We will see how she comes through it. I wouldn’t be surprised if we put her away now and save her for the spring.”
When asked if the Cox Plate was a long-range option, Coleman didn’t rule it out.
“Possibly. We will let the dust settle today – never make plans on race day, but that idea is in the back of our minds,” she said.
Moody and Nolen have now teamed up for 35 Group 1 wins and 909 victories in total, the latter a mark higher than any other active trainer-jockey combination in Australia.
Nolen said that was reflective, not just of their close relationship, but their loyalty, and that Coleman’s rise to training partner had been a wonderful addition to the mix.
“We’ve stuck it out a long time, Peter and myself,” Nolen said.
“It goes a long way to show the people we are – resilient, forgiving and loyal – three words I would never mind being described for me ever, and the two of us have got it in spades.
“Katherine is a late addition, but she’s a welcome one. She hasn’t given me a spray yet, but I’m sure it’s coming.”
James McDonald described Autumn Boy as “gallant” and said he tried hard in defeat, while Attica’s jockey Adam Hyeronimus felt the Spring Champion Stakes winner was looking for further.
“Once he gets to the 300 (metres), he starts to get going so he just needs distance,” Hyeronimus said.
