Sheza Alibi was only confirmed for the Doncaster Mile a few days following her Randwick Guineas success, yet co-trainer Katherine Coleman reports no concerns since that have suggested the filly isn’t ready for the challenge.
The three-year-old filly is primed to launch as the short-priced elect in the $4 million Group 1 contest over 1600m at Randwick on Saturday.
Sheza Alibi has one key workout remaining this week, scheduled for Pakenham on Tuesday morning, though Coleman noted everything has progressed without issue since her commanding Randwick Guineas triumph on March 7.
“We’ve definitely been very happy with her since she came home from Sydney after winning up there,” Coleman, who trains in partnership with Peter Moody, said.
“She just hasn’t missed a beat and she seems like she’s really bounced through that.
“Her trial was super, she wasn’t asked for much of an effort and it didn’t take much out of her.
“She seems very bright and well within herself, so she will have a nice gallop on Tuesday morning in preparation for the Doncaster and then head up to Sydney later in the week, all being well.”
Moody and Coleman held off on entering the Doncaster Mile until shortly after the 1600m Group 1 Randwick Guineas, by which time Sheza Alibi had returned to their Pakenham stable.
Preparations have proceeded routinely for the Saxon Warrior filly, maintained sharp via a strong 1000m jumpout victory at Pakenham on March 24.
Jamie Melham partnered her in that jumpout and will take the mount on Sheza Alibi carrying 49kg this weekend as she aims to stretch her winning sequence to five.
Prior to her Randwick Guineas score, she had taken the Group 2 Angus Armanasco Stakes (1400m), following successes in the Group 3 The Vanity (1400m) and Group 2 Sandown Guineas (1600m) last spring.
Sheza Alibi looks set to be the most strongly backed Doncaster Mile favourite since Winx’s $1.80 victory ten years back, currently at $2 all-in on Monday morning.
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