Sheza Alibi is set to make her debut over 2000 metres in the upcoming Group 1 Might And Power Stakes at Caulfield.

This strategic move will grant trainers Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman a three-week period to prepare the mare for the Group 1 Golden Eagle (1500m) at Randwick on October 31.

According to Moody, Sheza Alibi has demonstrated remarkable progress since her decisive victory in the Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on September 12, indicating that another run is beneficial prior to the Golden Eagle.

Moody’s decision to avoid the Toorak Handicap, held on the same day as the Might And Power, was influenced by the potential for Sheza Alibi to carry an excessive weight.

Looking at the broader racing calendar, Moody believes that contesting the 2000m race now will expand her future racing options.

“I think she gets too much weight in the Toorak and the weight-for-age race I think will suit her better,” Moody commented.

“There might be 10 or 12 runners, rather than 16 in a Toorak with 57 (kg) or 58 on her back.

“It’s 2000 metres and then she’ll go three weeks back to the 1500 metres of the Golden Eagle.

“It gives her good exposure for the future and experience at 2000 metres.

“She’s done that well in seven days. I think it makes life easy and I don’t have to train her.

“I think if you look at history over a long time, a lot of nice horses have won over a mile-and-a-quarter and then come back to that mile mark in 21 days, so I don’t see that as a problem.”

The Might And Power Stakes has historically seen smaller fields, with only one occasion in the last five years featuring double-digit runners (10 in 2023), and the preceding year saw a field of only four.

Notably, in 2016, Winx achieved her win against just two other competitors.

Moody affirmed that Sheza Alibi’s preparation has been ideal for a 2000m race.

“She’s had a run at 1400 (metres), a run at a mile, a lovely preparation for 2000 metres,” Moody said.

“It will give her good exposure and let me know whether she can run it, like Autumn Glow in the autumn.

“Until you try them, you don’t really know and if she sees out a strong 2000 it opens up a lot more doors for us next year.

“There is the Australian Cup, the Queen Elizabeth and the Cox Plate, hopefully, as a five-year-old.”

Betting sites in Australia will offer extensive racing odds for the upcoming Might And Power Stakes.