Sheza Alibi's move back to Pakenham imminent

The serious phase of training is fast approaching for Sheza Alibi.

The exciting filly is drawing near the end of her northern sojourn in Queensland and will soon be repatriated to the Pakenham stable operated by Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman.

The daughter of Saxon Warrior journeyed north following her stunning victory in the Group 1 Doncaster Mile, and Moody indicated she has relished her time off ahead of a potential defining four-year-old campaign.

"She actually travels home from Queensland next week," Moody said from Flemington on Saturday.

"(It's been) slowly, slowly. She's done about seven weeks' work up there and enjoyed it.

"There wasn't a lot of developing to do, she just had to maintain her health and wellbeing and she's done that."

Sheza Alibi's performances during the Sydney Autumn Carnival bolstered her credentials as Australia's top horse, building on her maiden Group 1 success in the Randwick Guineas (1600m) with a commanding 4-1/4-length win in the Doncaster Mile.

After a short period of rest, she engaged in a month of pre-training before undertaking a three-week program at Eagle Farm.

"Trot and canter for a month, just to put a base in them and the last three weeks she's been in at Eagle Farm at our stable there," Moody commented on Sheza Alibi's preparation.

"She's done three weeks at three-quarter pace and she's ready to have a gallop now."

The trainer confirmed that the spring campaign for the Horse of the Year contender is still being finalised, but initial plans are being set with a target of a first-up run in the Group 1 Memsie Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on August 29.

"She probably has a jumpout at the end of the month, trials the first or second week of August somewhere there and the Memsie's at the end of August," he explained.

"That was the first possible (target) – I'm not saying that the one – but that's the first option."

The Memsie Stakes takes place seven days following the Group 1 Winx Stakes in Sydney, a race many would eagerly anticipate her resuming in, as it would potentially lead to a highly anticipated clash with fellow Horse of the Year candidate Autumn Glow.

The primary goal for Sheza Alibi this spring is the prestigious $10 million Golden Eagle (1600m), to be contested on October 31, over the same course and distance as her two Group 1 victories, for which she is already a strong favourite.

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