After claiming the Group 1 Thousand Guineas with Ole Dancer, Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman have once again struck Group success with Sheza Alibi, who cruised to victory in the Group 2 Sandown Guineas (1600m).
The talented filly, who placed third behind Tentyris earlier in the spring, confirmed her place among Australia’s best young mares with an emphatic five-length win at Sandown under Luke Nolen.
Starting as the $1.50 favourite, Sheza Alibi enjoyed a dream run behind the leaders before bursting through once Top Reward moved off the rail, surging clear to defeat Tagline ($15) and Top Reward ($31) with ease.
Co-trainer Katherine Coleman said it was a vastly more comfortable watch than her previous start in the Group 3 The Vanity (1400m) at Flemington.
“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.”
Peter Moody said the stable is optimistic about what lies ahead, with Group 1 opportunities across Sydney and Melbourne on the horizon.
“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.”
Nolen, who worked hard to ride at 55kg, said he was more than happy to make the effort for such a special filly.
“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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