Sheza Alibi delivers Nolen his 2000th win at Randwick Guineas

Posted by RS NewsWire at 6:57am on March 7th
Sheza Alibi delivers Nolen his 2000th win at Randwick Guineas

Far too engaged in seeking apt praise for Sheza Alibi's crushing success in the Randwick Guineas, jockey Luke Nolen required a nudge that the filly had granted him a stunning personal landmark.

This Group 1 represented Nolen's 2000th career success – a tally he wasn't monitoring.

"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."

Suitably, Nolen toasted the milestone with handler Peter Moody, the combination famed for racing's pinnacle moments courtesy of elite sprinter Black Caviar.

Sheza Alibi trails far behind in matching that status, yet she emerges as a captivating filly independently and aced a vital challenge by overcoming the colts and geldings during Saturday's Randwick Guineas (1600m), marking the first such filly victory over males since Mosheen in 2012.

"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."

In the initial stages, Nolen maintained composure amid jostling for position, but with Sheza Alibi ($2.10 fav) straightening atop the rise, her burst of speed rapidly ensured victory was secure.

Charging home strongly, she prevailed by a growing 3-1/4 lengths from Autumn Boy ($3.60), while Attica ($11) secured third, two more lengths adrift.

Notwithstanding the dominant effort, Coleman reveals plans lean away from further runs, preferring a lengthy rest for the three-year-old ahead of next term.

"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."

On the topic of a potential Cox Plate down the track, Coleman kept possibilities alive.

"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.

Together, Moody and Nolen boast 35 Group 1 victories and 909 wins in all, surpassing every other ongoing trainer-jockey duo in Australia.

Nolen remarked it underscores their tight-knit alliance and commitment, with Coleman's inclusion as co-trainer proving a superb enhancement.

"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 deemed Autumn Boy "gallant" and praised his strong run in loss, whereas Adam Hyeronimus, aboard Attica, sensed the Spring Champion Stakes winner craved extra trip.

"Once he gets to the 300 (metres), he starts to get going so he just needs distance," Hyeronimus said.

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