Sheza Alibi is slated to compete at 2000 metres for the first time in the Group 1 Might And Power Stakes at Caulfield.

This engagement will provide trainers Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman with a three-week window to prepare Sheza Alibi for a tilt at the Group 1 Golden Eagle (1500m) at Randwick on October 31.

Moody indicated that Sheza Alibi has thrived since her notable victory in the Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on September 12, necessitating another outing before the Golden Eagle.

Moody reasoned that Sheza Alibi would likely carry excessive weight in the Toorak Handicap, scheduled for the same day as the Might And Power.

Looking ahead, Moody believes that contesting the 2000m race now will broaden future opportunities for the mare.

“I think she gets too much weight in the Toorak and the weight-for-age race I think will suit her better,” Moody stated.

“There might be 10 or 12 runners, rather than 16 in a Toorak with 57 (kg) or 58 on her back.

“It’s 2000 metres and then she’ll go three weeks back to the 1500 metres of the Golden Eagle.

“It gives her good exposure for the future and experience at 2000 metres.

“She’s done that well in seven days. I think it makes life easy and I don’t have to train her.

“I think if you look at history over a long time, a lot of nice horses have won over a mile-and-a-quarter and then come back to that mile mark in 21 days, so I don’t see that as a problem.”

Historically, the Might And Power Stakes has rarely seen double-figure fields, with only one instance in the past five runnings featuring 10 competitors in 2023, and a notably small field of four last year.

In 2016, the legendary Winx secured her victory with only two other horses in the race.

Moody expressed confidence in Sheza Alibi’s current conditioning for a 2000m race.

“She’s had a run at 1400 (metres), a run at a mile, a lovely preparation for 2000 metres,” Moody commented.

“It will give her good exposure and let me know whether she can run it, like Autumn Glow in the autumn.

“Until you try them, you don’t really know and if she sees out a strong 2000 it opens up a lot more doors for us next year.

“There is the Australian Cup, the Queen Elizabeth and the Cox Plate, hopefully, as a five-year-old.”

You can find the best racing odds and markets for the Might And Power Stakes at leading Australian betting sites.