3YO Summary: Sheza Alibi bests the colts in Randwick Guineas thriller

Cover image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography

Sheza Alibi defies doubter in Randwick Guineas glory

There has only been one filly to win the G1 Randwick Guineas under that banner and that was Mosheen (Fastnet Rock) in 2012, and on Saturday Sheza Alibi (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}) doubled that tally with a striking victory over Randwick’s mile on Saturday.

Long shot Dusty Bay (Sandbar) took up the lead from the gates, but Ninja (Farnan) and Autumn Boy (The Autumn Sun) pushed past in the home straight. The race looked to go the way of the latter until Sheza Alibi exploded out wide and simply could not be caught when winning by three and a quarter lengths.

"She is just something special, this filly,” said Katherine Coleman, who trains the filly in partnership with Peter 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.”

Coleman admitted that it was always an ambitious plan to take on the colts on their own turf, but the plan came to fruition in a spectacular fashion, and said that it was a testament to the filly’s quality that she prevailed.

"We'll see how she comes through this,” Coleman said when discussing future plans for the filly. The plan always was to have a pretty light autumn because she had such a deep spring preparation. 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."

It was a milestone victory for jockey Luke Nolen, who brought up 2000 career wins with his winning ride.

“Every time you get close to a milestone, your form seems to evade you sometimes,” he said. “2000 wins with a Group 1 winner in Sydney feels pretty good.

"We've stuck it out a long time, Peter and myself, 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.”

Sales: Fred Noffke paid just $10,000 for Sheza Alibi as a weanling when she was offered in a mid-year Inglis Digital sale in 2023 by Middlebrook Valley Lodge.

Pedigree: Sheza Alibi is the only winner for six-time winner Sheza Gypsy (Shaft), a half-sister to Listed Canberra Guineas winner Rom Baro (Time Thief) from the family of G2 Reisling Stakes winner Glistening (Zoustar). She visited Ozzmosis in 2025.

Sass Appeal too strong in Kewney

Last start Listed Desirable Stakes winner Sass Appeal (So You Think {NZ}) extended her winning streak to four in a dominant take-down of the G2 Kewney Stakes at Flemington on Saturday. The filly successfully reeled in Pillow Fight (Zoustar) in the closing stages to score by a widening two and three quarter lengths, justifying her antepost favouritism with the punters.

"She makes it look easy when she's got that tactical speed early and you get that good position in running,” said trainer Danny O’Brien. “It's a lot easier to watch than horses back in the field. Once they took positions today and looked wherever everything else was, there hasn't been a horse come from behind her and finish in front of her.

“The only horse she ultimately had to get past was the leader, and she did that and put a space on them."

O’Brien indicated that the filly would likely have a break now and reload for a Group 1 campaign in the spring, with likely targets including the G1 Empire Rose Stakes, whilst also bearing in mind the G1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes and the G1 Toorak Handicap.

"Often with the 3-year-old fillies you want to make hay while the sun shines against their own age, and sex, and make the best of what you've got before they turn four, but I think this horse will measure up to the older horses,” he said. “With that in mind, she's had a five start prep and I'm keen to give her a break and see her back here in the spring."

Sales: Vinery Stud sold Sass Appeal to O’Brien for $120,000 at the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale.

Pedigree: Sass Appeal is one of three winners for Group 3-performed Cristal Eyes (All Too Hard), a half-sister to G3 Red Roses Stakes winner Flying Evelyn (Not A Single Doubt), out of a daughter of G1 Coolmore Classic victress Bollinger (Dehere {USA}). The family also features Villermont and Benicio.

Cristal Eyes produced her first foal since Sass Appeal in 2025, an Ole Kirk colt, before visiting Exceedance.

Well Written writes her own destiny in Kiwi victory

Written Tycoon filly Well Written has been dynamite since she stepped out, and the G1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas victress took her exploits to another level on Saturday with a gritty victory in the R. Listed NZB Kiwi at Ellerslie. The filly was far in the lead as the field entered the final furlong, but Belle Cheval (NZ) (Savabeel) broke from the pack to try and catch her.

Knuckling down under Matt Cartwright, Well Written was able to hold her off by a short head to prevail in the NZ$4 million contest for Stephen Marsh and Yulong, who bought 50% in the filly in the weeks leading up to her barnstorming Guineas victory.

“Everything worked out perfect,” Cartwright said. “She was travelling that good, I let her go. Probably with the weight (58kg) and being in front for so long, she wandered a bit, but she got the job done still.”

Cartwright gave an ominous warning that the filly hadn’t demonstrated her best on the day.

“I have got to hand it to Stephen Marsh, he has been the best supporter of me, he is a great trainer and he is a great mate as well.”

Marsh admitted he didn’t know until the loudspeaker announced it that his filly had won, which was especially pleasing given Yulong principal Zhang Yuesheng was on course for the victory.

“She got to the front easy,” he said. “She has had six starts as a 3-year-old, she is not fully mature and had 58 kilos, I just wonder if all that had a bit of a factor. She floated around a bit when she got to the front.

“All the well wishes that I have had this week has just been overwhelming. I was hoping we weren’t going to let people down, and we won by the barest of margins, but I am just so proud of her and the team, all of our owners, Yulong - Mr Zhang is here today - it has just been amazing.

“The ride has been super and I will sleep well for a couple of days after that. It (winning the NZB Kiwi) is a feeling you can never explain, and you can’t buy it.”

Marsh indicated that the filly will likely head for a spell now, with an Australian campaign on the cards for the spring.

Sales: Bred David Digney, Well Written was first purchased by Harry and Benji King, under the latter’s Foxhill Thoroughbreds banner, as a weanling for $32,500 at the Inglis Great Southern Sale in 2023. Brighthill Farm offered her in the 2024 New Zealand Bloodstock National Online Yearling Sale on Gavelhouse Plus, where she was purchased by Marsh and Dylan Johnson Bloodstock for $80,000.

Pedigree: Well Written is the first foal out of dual Listed-placed Mozzie Monster (Sebring), a daughter of G3 How Now Stakes winner Valentine Miss (Danetime). Mozzie Monster delivered a Nicconi colt in 2025, before missing to Written Tycoon.

Road To Paris prevails over dramatic lead-up to New Zealand Derby

It was all about the Roger James and Robert Wellwood stable at Ellerslie on Saturday when the partnership produced the quinella in the G1 New Zealand Derby with Road To Paris (NZ) (Circus Maximus {Ire}) denying stablemate Autumn Glory (NZ) (Ocean Park {NZ}).

It has been a bumpy road to the Derby for the Ron and Judi Wanless-owned former, who all but gave the G2 Avondale Guineas away last start, but he was bang on target on Saturday when storming to the lead in the home straight with his stablemate, and fighting it out to prevail by just shy of a length.

The drama didn’t end at the line, with Road To Paris dislodging jockey George Rooke on his way back to the mounting yard and a protest being declared over potential interference to the two placegetters. Rooke was declared fit to ride out the rest of his engagements and, fortunately for Road To Paris, the protest was dismissed.

“I’m elated as we were super happy with all three of our horses,” James said. “We felt we had a huge show until the barriers came out - Road To Paris (in 13), Ariadne (in 14), Autumn Glory (in 15) - and we were pretty deflated.

“There were two super rides on the first two and in fact all three rides were huge. There is a big build-up to these days and this is very special.

“He (Road To Paris) is untapped but he has to improve his manners. This is also super for George (Rooke) as he has had a few rough times lately and we have stuck with him; he has stuck with us and that was one of the coolest Derby rides you will ever see.”

James indicated that Road To Paris may be seen across the Tasman following his Derby victory.

Sales: Road To Paris is a homebred for Judi Wanless.

Pedigree: Road To Paris is out of the four-time winning Savabeel mare Spirit Of Heaven (NZ), a three-quarter sister to G1 SAJC Oaks winner Lights Of Heaven (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}). He is also the first Group 1 winner for Windsor Park Stud stallion Circus Maximus (Ire).

Spirit Of Heaven foaled a colt by Satono Aladdin (Jpn) in 2025 before visiting Chaldean (GB).

Beadman lights it up in Fireball return

Sharp Snitzel colt Beadman returned in style in the Listed Fireball Stakes at Randwick on Saturday. A Group 3 winner in the autumn of his juvenile year, the 3-year-old was strong in his first two starts, running second to Hidden Motive (Capitalist) in the G2 Roman Consul Stakes. He turned up the heat on the latter in the home straight this time around to reverse the finish.

The colt prevailed by a head over the fast-finishing Inkaruna (I Am Invincible) who shot past Hidden Motive to claim second.

"It was good to see him do that, he ran smart time, too,'' Beadman’s trainer Peter Snowden said. "He did get a bit keen mid-race and I'm still working him out but he definitely has the talent. I think this win might get him into the Galaxy now. I know that is a big aim, but that is the belief I have in this horse.''

Newgate Farm maestro Henry Field, who purchased Beadman for his colts syndicate, has always been keen on the G1 Galaxy Handicap as the goal for the colt.

"He's a big, gross colt and whatever he did today the expectation is he has a lot of improvement to come,” he said. "James (McDonald) made the comment when he got to the front, he started 'floating', so he will be better again in The Galaxy.

"They always go hard in that race so the tempo will be good for him.''

"Beadman has always shown me a lot of ability but everything takes time and he is still learning,'' Snowden said. "His race-craft has to get a bit better and I'm sure it will. He has all the natural attributes, he's got the talent, he has a very good demeanour - he has a name that might hold him back a little bit - but he's very promising.''

Sales: China Horse Club, Newgate, Go Bloodstock, and Trilogy purchased Beadman for $900,000 from Arrowfield Stud’s 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale draft.

Pedigree: Beadman is the fourth foal out of nine-time winner and Listed Prix de Bonneval victress Iffranesia (Fr) (Iffraaj {GB}), from the immediate family of G3 Prix de Fontainebleau winner The Summit (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) and G2 King’s Stand Stakes winner Chineur (Fr) (Fasliyev {USA}). Tom Magnier bought a full brother to Beadman at this year’s Gold Coast sale for $1.5 million.

Iffranesia has a Dundeel (NZ) colt on the ground and subsequently visited The Autumn Sun.