It’s the dream race. But will Sheza Alibi v Autumn Glow ever become a reality?
Craig Kerry
A mouthwatering clash between unbeaten Autumn Glow and Doncaster dominator Sheza Alibi to decide Australia’s best horse looks unlikely to happen any time soon.
And the debate about which one holds the mantle now is set to only intensify if Autumn Glow passes her biggest challenge on Saturday over 2000 metres in the $5 million Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Randwick.
Sheza Alibi had the racing world reaching for superlatives after she rounded the field from near-last before cruising to a four-and-a-quarter-length win in the $4 million Doncaster Mile on Saturday at Randwick. It was the handicap’s biggest winning margin in memory and made her the first filly to prevail since Sunline in 1999.
The $10,000 online buy for Central Queensland grazier Fred Noffke had Hall of Fame trainer Peter Moody, the man who guided legend Black Caviar to an unbeaten 25-race career, overwhelmed and in tears after she gave him and co-trainer Katherine Coleman a first Doncaster.
Moody quipped on the day about paying a $66,000 late entry fee to back her up into the weight-for-age Queen Elizabeth, exciting punters about a clash with Autumn Glow, but he later confirmed the three-year-old would head to Queensland for a spell.
Noffke and Moody have stated the $10 million Golden Eagle (1500m) for four-year-olds at Randwick on October 31 is the spring target for Sheza Alibi.
Autumn Glow, set to spell after the Queen Elizabeth, appears on course for the Cox Plate (2040m) at Flemington on October 24 – especially if she stretches her perfect record to 12 when going beyond 1600m for the first time on Saturday. Owner and Arrowfield Stud founder John Messara wants to take her to England next year to compete at Royal Ascot, but how long he races the valuable broodmare prospect after that remains to be seen.
Given the likely paths, a clash between the newest superstars of the turf could be a long way off – if it happens at all.
For now, premier trainer Chris Waller is focused on preparations for the Queen Elizabeth with Autumn Glow, which looked on song in a solo 1000m exhibition gallop under James McDonald between races on Saturday.
“I want to have her pretty fit for next week, so just to tick another box,” Waller said. “She had a pretty good workout, she’s very clean in her wind and fit to run a strong 2000.
“My horses do a bit well three weeks between runs, so I’d like to give them an exhibition gallop. It’s four hours away from the feed bin, it’s a day out, truck trip, it just tightens them up.”
He said his confidence levels were “pretty good” about the four-year-old firing at 2000m.
“She just gives herself every chance to switch off,” he said. “She could bounce and put herself where she needs to be. She can be ridden conservatively if she needs to be, so being so versatile gives you the confidence that she’s going to switch off, relax … just being able to conserve some energy is a big plus.”
He said Aeliana, which won the Ranvet and Tancred Stakes a week apart, will run in the Queen Elizabeth “providing the next week goes well”.
“We gave her three days at the farm, she’s come back in, and she looks great,” he said.
He said Wootton Verni would also probably contest the race, but $10 million import Barnavara would likely spell.
Profoundly worth the wait for Berry
Tommy Berry’s patience paid off when Profoundly booked a spot in the group 1 Australian Oaks (2400m) with victory in the group 3 Adrian Knox Stakes (2000m).
Carrying the famous Freedman family colours carried by champions such as Subzero, the Farnan filly beat Soverato by two-and-a-quarter lengths on Saturday at Randwick to back up a fast-finishing third in the Kembla Grange Classic.
Profoundly started out under part-owner and Hall of Fame trainer Lee Freedman, who is now managing the Gold Coast stable of brother, Michael.
Both Freedmans indicated Profoundly would likely back up into next week’s $1 million Oaks. Profoundly was a $4.50 second elect to Ohope Wins with TAB.
Snowden eyes more black-type for blueblood
Randwick trainer Peter Snowden was looking to another group 3 fillies race for $2.2 million buy Plaintiff after she overcame the outside gate to win her first stakes grade test and remain unbeaten.
Owned by Winx’s breeder, Fairway Thoroughbreds’ John Camilleri, the Zoustar-Prompt Response filly finished down the outside in the last on Saturday at Randwick, the PJ Bell Stakes (1200m), to beat Nepo Baby by a half-length. The win from gate 17 took Plaintiff’s record to four from four.
Snowden was eyeing the James HB Carr Stakes (1400m) on April 18 at Randwick as a next target.
“[Camilleri] wanted me to scratch, thinking it was going to be too hard for her, but he’s been very, very good to me, John, and I’m glad he’s got a really nice filly to go on with,” Snowden said. “She’s very lightly raced, and she’s got plenty of potential.”