Any prospect of seeing ‘black odds’ for the star mare Sheza Alibi in this Saturday’s $10 million Group One Golden Eagle appears to have diminished after she drew barrier six.
This event, now in its second year at Royal Randwick, permits 18 runners in the four-year-old restricted race. Bookmakers subsequently reopened betting, listing Sheza Alibi at $1.90, with Beiwacht and Autumn Boy sharing the second line of favouritism at $8.
Beiwacht, one of five Group One winners in the line-up, secured barrier 10. Autumn Boy drew barrier five, immediately adjacent to Sheza Alibi.
Sheza Alibi and Autumn Boy have a history of quinellaing races when they face each other, having achieved this on four previous occasions. While Autumn Boy defeated Sheza Alibi as two-year-olds at Eagle Farm, she has since captured the Randwick Guineas, Doncaster Mile, and Makybe Diva Stakes.
Owner Fred Noffke expressed satisfaction with the draw, noting he had limited choices. He jokingly stated his task was complete and the responsibility now rested with trainers Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman, and jockey Luke Nolen.
“I was very happy,” Noffke said.
“I asked Peter (Moody) what he wanted and Peter didn’t mind so long as I was drawn out a bit, and I said ‘can we take six to twelve?’ and he said, ‘yep, that’ll be fine.”
Noffke indicated that Sheza Alibi, after a surprising defeat in the Group 1 Might And Power Stakes (2000m), has enjoyed a freshen-up and is well-prepared for Saturday’s Golden Eagle.
“There was a big discussion back a fair bit and Peter said we can do it,” Noffke remarked.
“I’ve not seen anywhere where Peter’s not been right, this has been the plan and I’m sure that he’ll execute it just fine.”
In a bid to challenge Sheza Alibi, champion trainer Chris Waller has made gear adjustments for Beiwacht, who will wear a norton bit, and Autumn Boy, who will race without blinkers. Stable representative Darren Beadman reported that both horses have performed exceptionally well in recent trackwork.
“All the way through his career, he’s raced in a ring bit,” Beadman commented.
“So something different, just psychologically, he’ll just get his mind off the normal bit that was in his mouth and the rider that rides most of his work said that he’s really taken to the bit.”
“And when Autumn Boy didn’t have the blinkers on, when he won the Rosehill Guineas, he was just nice and relaxed, so with Zac Purton on board, he’s a good strong rider, a big stallion like Autumn Boy needs someone to help him through it.”
The Gerald Ryan & Sterling Alexiou-trained Skyhook drifted significantly in the market after drawing barrier 16 and is rated a $13 chance. Apocalyptic, the Silver Eagle winner, is at $17 and drew the widest gate of 18, being the only other runner shorter than $21.
Check out the latest racing odds from leading sports betting platforms.
