Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman, who recently celebrated Group 1 glory in the Thousand Guineas, look to have another star on their hands after Sheza Alibi produced a dominant display to capture the Group 2 Sandown Guineas (1600m).
The progressive filly had finished third to Tentyris on the same day stablemate Ole Dancer won the Guineas, but she announced herself as one of the country’s top three-year-olds with a commanding performance at Sandown.
Sent out a $1.50 favourite under Luke Nolen, Sheza Alibi settled beautifully from an inside draw before surging through once Top Reward shifted off the rail, quickly putting 5-3/4 lengths on Tagline ($15), with Top Reward ($31) holding third.
Co-trainer Katherine Coleman said the win was a stress-free watch after Sheza Alibi’s tight victory in the Group 3 The Vanity (1400m) at Flemington last start.
“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 said the daughter of Star Turn continues to improve and looks perfectly placed for an autumn campaign targeting top-level races 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 jockey Luke Nolen, who reduced to 55kg to take the ride, the effort was well worth it.
“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.”
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