Peter Moody & Katherine Coleman won the Group 1 Thousand Guineas (1600m), but it may not have been with their best three-year-old filly.
Sheza Alibi kicked off her preparation with a third-placing to Tentyris on the same day stablemate Ole Dancer won the Thousand Guineas, and has put her hand up as one of the best fillies in the country with an effortless victory in the Group 2 Sandown Guineas (1600m).
Heavily supported to start the $1.50 favourite and ridden by Luke Nolen, Sheza Alibi only needed clear air from the inside barrier, and once Top Reward left the fence upon straightening, she surged clear to put up 5-3/4 lengths on Tagline ($15), with Top Reward ($31) sticking on for third.
Having taken a tight gap to win the Group 3 The Vanity (1400m) at Flemington last start, co-trainer Katherine Coleman said Sheza Alibi was an easy watch.
“That was pretty painless there,” Coleman said.
“She was put in a beautiful spot from that draw by Luke Nolen and when that gap opened, didn’t she take it well.”
Moody is no stranger to star fillies and said the Autumn is her oyster, with Group 1 options in both Sydney and Melbourne.
“We didn’t quite know what to expect but when you saw Autumn Boy come out win the Caulfield Guineas as impressively as he did and this filly, we thought she’d come on,” Moody said.
“I don’t think we’ll have too much trouble finding a nice race for her.”
“She’ll be back at Flemington in the Autumn in something like the Australian Guineas because outside of her old adversary Autumn Boy, you’re probably not going to hide from the rest.”
“She will (spell now) but she won’t have a lot of time as the autumn is upon us very quick.”
“She’ll have a few weeks and then I think we’ll target a path to the Guineas and fillies races.”
For Nolen, it was a good reward for getting down to 55kg to ride Sheza Alibi, something the hoop said he’ll happily do in the future.
“I don’t know what Pete has in mind but I’ll be cutting legs and arms off to maintain the ride,” Nolen said.
“That’s the selfish jockey coming out of me but I like her a lot and I’d like to stick with her as long as I can.”
