Sheza Alibi defeats colts to win Randwick Guineas, Nolen's 2,000th

Sheza Alibi exploded clear of the field to win the Group 1 Randwick Guineas at Randwick, pulling away by a little over three lengths from Autumn Boy with Attica third in the nine-horse contest. Ridden from gate four by Luke Nolen (whose name also appears in some reports as Luke Nolan), the filly carried 54.5kg and was the only filly in the line-up.

Breednet described the finish as emphatic: Sheza Alibi "went passed the leaders with utter ease, untouched to win as she liked, pulling clear to win by a little over three lengths." Nolen, celebrating his 2,000th career winner, laughed about the build-up: "I took the obscure route. Getting rubbed out for three weeks and having to ride at 54.5kgs first day back. I know I've done it now, but she's more than worth it." He added a race-day assessment: "When it was a soft run behind the hardest to beat (Autumn Boy), dragged us everywhere we needed to be and she grew wings at the furlong. She's an exceptional horse."

The victory completed a rapid rise for the Peter G. Moody and Katherine Coleman-trained filly. Purchased as a weanling from Middlebrook Valley Lodge by owner Fred Noffkey for $10,000 at the 2023 Inglis Digital June sale, Sheza Alibi now has six wins and three placings from nine starts and career earnings of $1,280,695. Her spring form included a Group 3 Vanity win at Flemington, defeating Teine Aulelei by 1.75 lengths on November 1, and a dominant Sandown Guineas success described in photo captions as nearly six lengths. She resumed in the Angus Armanasco Stakes at Caulfield on February 21, defeating Salty Pearl by 2.25 lengths with 58.5kg at $1.50.

Moody defended the decision to target the Guineas, saying the stable "had the option of waiting for the Coolmore Classic but I've got Ole Dancer going there. Sheza Alibi is going well, she's come through her first-up win in great order. She's won a Group 3 and a Group 2 so we feel she deserves her chance at a Group 1 in the Guineas." Co-trainer Katherine Coleman, at Randwick on the day, called the filly "just something special" and paid tribute to the jockey: "To have him on board today makes it even more special. He's such a massive part of our team and he rode her perfectly. I'm just so thrilled for him."

The result carries historical weight: Sheza Alibi is the first filly to win the Randwick Guineas since Mosheen (Fastnet Rock) in 2012. Connections and pundits returned to broader patterns in the race's form book, noting previous Guineas winners that emerged from Hobartville Stakes campaigns, including Dissident (2014), Hallowed Crown (2015), Kementari (2018), The Autumn Sun (2019) and Celestial Legend (2024).

Runners and riders who missed out offered measured takeaways. Autumn Boy, second after beating Sheza Alibi in Brisbane over winter, was the strongest challenger on the day. Beaten-rider comments ranged from Tommy Berry on Gringotts, "In great order. We took him back today from an awkward gate first up. He is on for a good prep," to Jason Collett on Yorkshire, "Very good run."

Plans for Sheza Alibi are cautious: Coleman said, "We’ll see how she comes through this. The plan always was to have a pretty light autumn because she had such a deep spring preparation," and, when asked about loftier targets, added "Possibly. We will let the dust settle today - never make plans on race day, but that idea is in the back of our minds." Nolen, reflecting on the milestone, smiled, "Oh yeah, I forgot about that. Every time you get close to a milestone your form seems to evade you sometimes. 2,000 wins, a Group 1 winner in Sydney feels pretty good." He tempered ambition with perspective on the sport's greats: "We’re a long way off. There’s only one goat and that’s Damien Oliver.