What a ride it has been for owner Fred Noffke with his $10 000 purchase Sheza Alibi.
The daughter of Saxon Warrior comfortably took care of her opposition last time out, winning the Group 3 TAB Vanity by a clearcut 1.75 lengths on the first day of the Melbourne Cup Carnival taking her earnings since making her debut seven months ago to a cracking $268 945 in six career starts … already a massive return on investment.
Sheza Alibi started favourite when winning the Vanity where she jumped as a $2.20 chance with only two other horses quoted at odds of less than $10 in the twelve-horse field.
A similar pre-race betting trend appears to be unfolding for Saturday’s $400 000, Group 2 Sandown Guineas at Caulfield, which Sheza Alibi is targeting in search of more potential riches. Sheza Alibi is currently quoted as the hot favourite at the restrictive odds of $1.70, this time with only one other runner in the thirteen-horse field quoted at less than $10.
Such is the level of respect being shown to Sheza Alibi, whose rise in profile and reputation has been a rapid ascent.
Not only her own results, but some of the performance around Sheza Alibi have been franking her form.
In her fourth start, Sheza Alibi finished second, a shade less than two lengths behind Autumn Boy in the Listed Tattersalls’ Stakes at Eagle Farm. Autumn Boy went on to win the Caulfield Guineas three-and-a-half months later.
In her fifth start, Sheza Alibi finished third, again just under two lengths behind Tentyris in the Listed Gothic Stakes at Caulfield. Tentyris was a dominant winner of the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes in his next start.
So, the positive vibes that surround Sheza Alibi are there for good reason.
The Gothic Stakes and the Vanity runs both came for the Peter Moody / Catherine Coleman training partnership.
Before coming into the Moody / Coleman yard, Sheza Alibi was trained by Rockhampton based trainer Kris Hansen, who guided the filly to two wins and two second places from the four races she contested under his care … one of those seconds being in the Tattersall’s Stakes.
It was after the Tattersall’s Stakes that the decision was taken to change stables to justifiably allow Sheza Alibi the chance to test the waters down south.
And she has not looked back.
But the connection to North Queensland is still very much there.
There was plenty of cheers with her win at Flemington but, Sheza Alibi’s background, they would have been cheering as loudly in North Queensland.
All being well on Saturday, expect more of the same.
