After being defeated first-up by Horse of the Year Autumn Glow, Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman’s outstanding mare Sheza Albi bounced back to add a third elite level victory to her record, becoming the first mare to win the time-honoured VRC Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) at G1 level.
Short in the betting as expected, the 4yo mare jumped away well from the middle of the line before drifting back as Treasurethe Moment headed to the lead to take up the running, with Another Wil also going forward to sit on her outside.
As the field turned the final corner and went for home, Blake Shinn asked Mr Brightside (NZ) an effort and the $19m earner hit the lead, aiming to try and record success in his fourth consecutive Makybe Diva.
Just as Mr Brightside presented himself and Sir Delius (GB) came out even wider, Luke Nolen allowed Sheza Alibi some clear running and the mare glided past the leading division, exploding away from the field to win by two and three quarter lengths eased down.
Finishing second, just as he did behind the outstanding mare in the G1 Randwick Guineas and G1 Doncaster Handicap, Chris Waller’s Autumn Boy closed off well while Another Wil held on for third with Sir Delius kicking off his campaign in style with a fourth placed effort.
Co-trained Kathrine Coleman was once again in awe of the special mare.
“It's incredibly special,” enthused Coleman. “She loves defying history; this girl and I think she's going to continue to do it as her career progresses.
“She looked like she did that quite easily today, which is incredible, when you look at the horses that she was up against. She is very, very special and it means so much to our stable. A massive thank-you to everyone who has been a part of it.
“She's probably come back more of a finished product this time around. She's always been a lovely horse to look at. She has developed, is bigger and stronger and hopefully we continue to see that."
“She began better today. She put herself there, travelled sweetly. It was a beautiful ride by from Luke and he had her in that position where she was going to be able to get mobile when he needed to.
As for where she might head next, Coleman indicated that the $10m Golden Eagle is still on the agenda.
“I would say we're still geared towards the Golden Eagle but never make decisions on race day.
Jockey Luke Nolen still doesn’t know where the top is for Sheza Albi.
“We don't know her ceiling yet, so that's the exciting part of it,” said Nolen.
“Outwardly she doesn't stand out, even as a trackworker she doesn't stand out, but she's all racehorse.
“Yeah, I was. But I was afforded a nice draw and I could stalk the hardest to beat everywhere they went, so I ended up being the hunter and it suits this filly just fine.”
Taking her record to eight wins (six at black type level) and four placed efforts from 12 starts, Sheza Albi has returned $4,366,795, clearly with the promise of more to come as connections have highlighted the $10m Golden Eagle as her target.
Purchased for just $10,000 by Fred Noffkey when offered as a weanling by Middlebrook Valley Lodge in the 2023 Inglis Digital June (early), Sheza Alibi is the only winner from four 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 also produced the 3yo Nomadic (King’s Legacy), with the now 3yo placed in the G3 Baillieu (1400m) for Randwick trainer John Thompson last season.
The mare was not covered in 2023 and 2024, but last season was covered by Newgate Farm’s G1 Coolmore Stud Stakes winner Ozzmosis with the foal due any time now.
Sheza Alibi is the one of two G1 winners for Deep Impact’s G1-winning son Saxon Warrior (Jpn), who shuttled to Coolmore Australia for four seasons, but has not returned since 2022.
