Too occupied hunting for the best words to capture Sheza Alibi’s dominant triumph in the Randwick Guineas, rider Luke Nolen needed a prompt that the filly had also handed him a remarkable achievement.
The Group 1 marked Nolen’s 2000th victory in his career – though he wasn’t keeping track.
“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.”
Appropriately, Nolen marked the accomplishment alongside trainer Peter Moody, as the duo has savored racing’s greatest successes via their link with superstar sprinter Black Caviar.
Although Sheza Alibi has much to achieve to enter that category, she stands as a thrilling filly on her merits and cleared a key hurdle by defeating the colts and geldings in Saturday’s Randwick Guineas (1600m), the initial filly to top the males since Mosheen back 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.”
Nolen needed to stay composed at the outset while the runners shuffled for spots, yet once Sheza Alibi ($2.10 fav) settled at the crest of the hill, her explosive acceleration swiftly sealed the outcome.
Storming clear to the finish, she triumphed by an expanding 3-1/4 lengths margin ahead of Autumn Boy ($3.60) with Attica ($11) in third place, a further two lengths back.
In spite of the commanding showing, Coleman indicates they probably won’t continue campaigning, opting instead for a solid spell for the three-year-old and targeting the coming campaign.
“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.”
Queried on whether the Cox Plate might be a distant prospect, Coleman left it open.
“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.
Moody and Nolen have combined for 35 Group 1 successes and 909 triumphs overall, outpacing any other current trainer-rider pairing in Australia.
Nolen noted it highlights not only their strong bond but also their dedication, adding that Coleman’s emergence as training partner has enriched the team nicely.
“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 called Autumn Boy “gallant” and noted he battled stoutly when beaten, as Attica’s rider Adam Hyeronimus believed the Spring Champion Stakes victor required more ground.
“Once he gets to the 300 (metres), he starts to get going so he just needs distance,” Hyeronimus said.
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