Deep in pursuit of glowing terms for Sheza Alibi’s overwhelming victory at the Randwick Guineas, Luke Nolen was alerted that the filly had also secured him a phenomenal career mark.
That Group 1 equaled Nolen’s 2000th win overall – one he hadn’t been fixated on.
“Oh yeah, I forgot about that,” Nolen said.
“Every time you get close to a milestone, your form seems to evade you.
“Two thousand wins, a Group One winner in Sydney, it feels pretty good.”
In apt fashion, Nolen reveled in the moment with Peter Moody, their famed collaboration bringing racing immortality through Black Caviar.
Sheza Alibi isn’t near that elite level yet, but this filly excites on her own and conquered a significant barrier, outrunning colts and geldings in Saturday’s Randwick Guineas (1600m) – first filly since 2012’s Mosheen to beat the boys.
“She is just something special, this filly,” said Katherine Coleman, who trains her in partnership with Moody.
“She put the writing on the wall previously, but this has been her hardest test to date and to put a quality field away like that? Wowee, I’m shaking.”
Early racing saw Nolen patient through positioning battles, before Sheza Alibi ($2.10 fav) hit top gear past the rise, dashing away convincingly.
She finished with authority, 3-1/4 lengths clear of Autumn Boy ($3.60) and Attica ($11) in third, two lengths further behind.
Coleman, despite the impressive nature, anticipates halting here for a decent spell with the three-year-old, eyeing fresh targets later.
“The plan always was to have a pretty light autumn because she had such a deep spring preparation,” she said.
“So her and I will be on the road back to Melbourne tomorrow morning. We will see how she comes through it. I wouldn’t be surprised if we put her away now and save her for the spring.”
When the Cox Plate was floated as a future aim, Coleman was non-committal.
“Possibly. We will let the dust settle today – never make plans on race day, but that idea is in the back of our minds,” she said.
Moody’s 35 Group 1s and 909 wins with Nolen top Australia’s active partnerships.
Nolen views it as proof of their enduring rapport and fidelity, enhanced by Coleman’s recent involvement.
“We’ve stuck it out a long time, Peter and myself,” Nolen said.
“It goes a long way to show the people we are – resilient, forgiving and loyal – three words I would never mind being described for me ever, and the two of us have got it in spades.
“Katherine is a late addition, but she’s a welcome one. She hasn’t given me a spray yet, but I’m sure it’s coming.”
James McDonald labeled Autumn Boy “gallant” for his gritty loss, and Attica’s Adam Hyeronimus thought the Spring Champion Stakes winner wants more ground.
“Once he gets to the 300 (metres), he starts to get going so he just needs distance,” Hyeronimus said.
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