Beaten in a Rockhampton maiden when making her debut less than 12 months ago, the story of Sheza Alibi is simply an amazing one as the Saxon Warrior (Jpn) filly has now recorded victory in one of Australia’s greatest mile contests to become the first 3yo filly since Champion Sunline (NZ) in 1999 to win the $4m G1 ATC Doncaster Mile (1600m) at Randwick.
Coming off a facile victory over Autumn Boy in the G1 ATC Randwick Guineas (1600m) last start with that runner-up proving just as good at his next start when winning the G1 ATC Rosehill Guineas (2000m), the pair of 3yo's started first and second favourites in Saturday's feature race.
From barrier 13 in the field of 16, jockey Jamie Melham allowed Sheza Alibi to settle with just one runner behind her, but with just 49kgs on her back, the filly was always going to be weighted to run home.
With the Ben, Will and JD Hayes trained Evaporate (NZ) going forward to take up the lead, Ken & Kasey Keys’ Scheelite sat in second with last season’s G1 Randwick Guineas winner Linebacker (NZ) getting a cosy run in third.
As the top three led into the home straight, the runs were starting to come from back in the field with Kerrin McEvoy bringing Autumn Boy across the heels of those in front on him to get to clear running down the outside.
But it didn’t really matter as within a twinkle of an eye, Sheza Albi came from the tail of the field as she zoomed passed her opposition, opening up with absolute utter ease to win four and a quarter lengths from Autumn Boy in what was a repeat of their last meeting in the Randwick Guineas.
Having won the G1 Inglis Sires’ on this day back in 2023 before a failed stud career, the Chris Waller trained Militarize (NZ) (Dundeel) showed a slight return to form, working home into third just ahead of the Ciaron Maher trained Gringotts (NZ) who did a great job to finish fourth with top weight of 58.5kgs.
Co-trainer Peter Moody was simply in awe of Sheza Alibi who he trains in partnership with Katherine Coleman.
“That was breathtaking, the second colt is a super colt and what she does is just amazing," said Moody. "Quite phenomenal and she’s so nondescript, she doesn’t stand out at home in training, she’s just a tradesman, she’s got a great hip, a big deep girth and a hell of a lot of ability.”
“I thought she had the perfect prep, won the Guineas, got the ballot exemption, we missed the penalty and it just set up beautifully.
“The only thing was the soft ground, good horses like to be close to on top of the ground, any good horse does, nothing goes faster with cut in the ground.
“I remember my time with TJ and that’s why it’s always so special, Randwick was always home to me.
“I tell you what is very special to me, my great mate Brett Cavanough won the Country Championships earlier in the day.
“We are two boys from Charleville, a small town of 2000 people in Western Queensland and we’ve just won two feature races at Randwick on Doncaster Day.
“Ask Chris if one of his mates from Foxton in New Zealand has won on Doncaster Day, that’s pretty special, Brett Cavanough and Peter Moody, two kids from Charleville, we’ve won two big races on Doncaster day and I hope all the team at Charleville are watching and having a great day. Brett arranged my first job with TJ, so that’s very special as well.”
Riding the filly for the first time, Melham couldn’t believe the win.
“What a horse, I trialled her the other day and she gave me a nice feel, but with blinkers on today, Jesus Christ, I’ve never sat on a horse that has given me goosebumps like that before,” said Melham.
“I got pushed a bit wide and got back a bit too far, but we got there in about a few strides and she just sailed away from them.
“They have a very, very special horse on their hands.
“I’ve sat on some very special horses before, but I don’t think any come close to the feel she just gave me then.”
“I’m very happy to be hungry to be riding a horse like this.”
Having now record five consecutive black type victories highlighted by back-to-back G1 wins, Sheza Alibi has taken her overall record to seven wins and three placed efforts from ten starts with earnings of $3,719,945.
Becoming the first filly since the Champion Sunline (Desert Sun) in 1999 to win the Doncaster as a 3yo Filly, Sheza Alibi was offered as a weanling by Middlebrook Valley Lodge in the 2023 Inglis Digital June (early) sale where she was purchased by her owner Fred Noffkey for just $10,000.
She is the only winner from three foals to race out of the Shaft mare Sheza Gypsy, a winning half-sister to Listed Canberra Guineas winner Rom Baro from stakes-placed Gypsy Mai.
Sold through Inglis Digital in July last year for just $1250, Sheza Gypsy has a 2yo colt by King’s Legacy named Nomadic who was a last start third in the G3 Baillieu (1400m) for Randwick trainer John Thompson.
The mare was not covered in 2023 and 2024, but last season was covered by Newgate Farm’s G1 Coolmore Stud Stakes winner Ozzmosis.
Sheza Alibi is the second G1 winner, but first in the Southern Hemisphere for Deep Impact’s G1 winning son Saxon Warrior, who shuttled to Coolmore Australia for four seasons, but has not returned since 2022.
