A $10,000 Inglis Digital bargain buy that started her racing career with wins at Rockhampton and Townsville, three year-old filly Sheza Alibi brought her owner to the biggest stage in racing when winning the Group III VRC The Vanity (1400m) at Flemington on Derby Day.
Previously trained in Queensland by Kris Hansen, Sheza Alibi was transferred into the stable of Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman after finishing second to subsequent Caulfield Guineas winner Autumn Boy in a Listed race at Eagle Farm in June.
She ran a good third at her first run in Victoria for her new trainers behind Tentyris in the Listed MRC Gothic Stakes and was ready for another step up today.
With Luke Nolen in the saddle, the daughter of Saxon Warrior (Jpn) relished the step out to 1400m and when she got a split at the 100m mark was able to dash clear and win by nearly two lengths.
Sheza Alibi has the overall record of three wins and three placings from six starts with prizemoney in excess of $260,000.
“She laid the foundation at Caulfield with a very good effort in a strong race behind two very good colts and out to a more suitable 1400m she looked well placed,” said Peter Moody.
“Well done to her connections and her owner Freddie Noffkey, also the Hansen team up in Rockhampton that had this filly through her early days. She’s gone through Townsville and Rockhampton and places like that, so to see her come here and perform on Derby Day on the biggest stage, congratulations to all involved.
“Katherine and my team at home, we've had her down here for a good few months now, and she's done nothing but please us.
“Freddie Noffkey, he's a central Queensland cattleman, so it might be a bit dangerous to get in his way later tonight!”
Sheza Alibi was offered as a weanling by Middlebrook Valley Lodge in the 2023 Inglis Digital June (early) sale where she was bought by her owner Fred Noffkey for $10,000.
She is the only winner from three foals to race from Sheza Gypsy, a winning half-sister by shaft to stakes-winner Rom Baro from stakes-placed Gypsy Mai.
Sold through Inglis Digital in July this year for just $1250, Sheza Gypsy has a two year-old colt by King’s Legacy that sold for $160,000 at Inglis Classic this year to John Thompson Racing / Boomer Bloodstock.
Sheza Alibi is the 19th stakes-winner for Deep Impact’s G1 winning son Saxon Warrior, who shuttled to Coolmore Australia for four seasons, but has not returned since 2022 and stood at a fee of 15,000 euros at Coolmore Ireland this year.
