Sheza Alibi is unlikely to take her place in the Group 1 Australian Guineas after co-trainer Peter Moody confirmed a change of direction for the filly’s autumn campaign.
Moody said the early Guineas favourite will bypass her intended return at Flemington this Saturday and instead resume at Caulfield a week later.
“I spoke with her owner, Mr Fred Noffke, and we’ve decided not to run her on Saturday, which makes it highly unlikely she will run in the Australian Guineas,” Moody told Racing.com.
The Saxon Warrior filly is now set to resume in the Group 2 Armanasco Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield next Saturday, with the Group 1 Randwick Guineas on March 7 the new target.
Moody said the extra week would allow the filly to fully recover ahead of her return.
“She’s worked very well but needed a little extra recovery time,” he said.
“She looks fantastic, maybe even a touch too fit, so we gave her an extra week.”
Sheza Alibi announced herself as a major spring prospect last year after her first preparation with Moody and co-trainer Katherine Coleman ended with back-to-back black-type victories in the Group 3 Vanity Stakes and Group 2 Sandown Guineas.
