Cover image courtesy of Horse Betting
Sheza Alibi on track for Memsie return
Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman’s start 3-year-old Sheza Alibi (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}) pleased the training duo with her first jump-out ahead of the spring on Tuesday morning, finishing second to fellow Group 1-winning stablemate Ole Dancer (Ole Kirk) in the opening heat at Pakenham.
The dual Group 1-winning filly hugged the fence to come home second by a little over a length, while Ole Dancer was given a stronger ride home to hit the line well.
“She (Sheza Alibi) was just out to stretch the legs,” Moody told racing.com after the jumpout. “We couldn’t be more pleased with either of the fillies, really.”
“We couldn’t be more pleased with either of the fillies, really.” - Peter Moody
Moody indicated the filly would trial again in a fortnight over 1000 metres before a likely campaign kick-off in the G1 Memsie Stakes on August 29, although the campaign hasn’t been nailed down just yet. It was revealed that Ole Dancer would likely stay to sprinting trips for her 4-year-old spring campaign and Coleman shared that Ole Dancer could join her stablemate in the Memsie.
Peter Moody | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
“Both fillies will be back here for a more serious trial in two weeks time, but we are really pleased with how they went this morning and hopefully it sets them up for a good preparation,” Coleman told Southside Racing.
A $10,000 Inglis Digital weanling purchase for Fred Noffke, Sheza Alibi rewarded that shrewd decision this season with wins in the G1 Randwick Guineas and the G1 Doncaster Handicap, and over $3.7 million in prize money. Her six-time winning dam Sheza Gypsy (Shaft) visited Ozzmosis in 2025.
Sheza Alibi | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
A $350,000 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale purchase for her trainers from North Bloodstock, Ole Dancer is a descendant of Wiener (More Than Ready {USA}), a half-sister to Snitzel and dam of G1 Epsom Handicap winner Rediener (Redoute's Choice). Ole Dancer's dam Dancers (Husson {Arg}) has sadly missed to Ole Kirk the last two seasons.
Moir route ahead for Extragalactic
Fourth in the same heat was Trent Edmonds' Extragalactic (Deep Field), who missed out on winning the G1 Goodwood Handicap by a nostril at her most recent start. The start before, she was second in the G2 Tobin Bronze Stakes as well. Speaking to racing.com, Edmonds indicated he would be bidding for Group 1 redemption with the rising 4-year-old this spring.
“It was a big kick in the guts not getting the bob, let me tell you, because obviously I’m trying to establish myself and a result going your way like that would be great,” he said.
Trent Edmonds (Right) | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“There’s no point crying about it – she still made giant strides last time around – and hopefully we can go one better at some stage this time in.
“She (Extragalactic) still made giant strides last time around – and hopefully we can go one better at some stage this time in.” - Trent Edmonds
“I’ve got her pencilled in to run in the Carlyon first-up, two weeks out from the Moir. Initially, I flirted with going to run her in the Moir first-up but I just thought back as a 4-year-old, we’ll give her a bowl around in the Carlyon, hopefully go there and she can knock a stakes race off before the main event a couple of weeks later. That’s the first port of call and then we’ll just assess after that.”
Edmonds indicated he expected an improvement in the filly after Tuesday's trial, which was her first back from a spell.
“She was good,” he said. “She jumped fresh, which she is, just her condition gave out the last 100 metres, but I expected that. She’ll tighten up beautifully.”
Extragalactic as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Edmonds paid $160,000 at the Gold Coast for Extragalactic, whose dam Alliterate (Al Maher) was a smart 2-year-old winner and a half to Listed Reginald Allen Handicap winner Alart (Excellent Art {GB}), from the family of Yes Yes Yes and In Her Time (Time Thief {GB}). Alliterate delivered a colt by the late Sejardan in 2025 before visiting Flying Artie.
Desert Lightning, Machine Gun Gracie’s spring warmups
Sheza Alibi and Ole Dancer’s stablemate Desert Lightning (NZ) (Pride Of Dubai) was also warming up for the spring at Pakenham on Tuesday morning, winning his first hit-out since the G1 Stradbroke Handicap over West Australian powerhouse Machine Gun Gracie (Maschino).
The G1 Goodwood Handicap winner was given a handy push in the home straight to draw away and win by over three lengths over Machine Gun Gracie, with Saveadateforme (NZ) (Savabeel) showing a good turn of foot to nearly catch the mare on the line.
The winner of eight races and over $2.2 million, Desert Lightning is the first of two stakes winners for his dam Isstoora (High Chaparral {Ire}), whose younger son Oak Hill (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}) won the G2 Rubiton Stakes in February. Isstoora delivered a filly by Per Incanto (USA) in 2025 and returned to the sire the same season.
Desert Lightning (NZ) | Image courtesy of Race Images
Fort Sumter stays unbeaten
Untapped juvenile filly Fort Sumter (Farnan) made it three victories from three jump outs on Tuesday morning at Pakenham for Trent Edmonds. Partnered with Blake Shinn, who had three rides at the jump-out morning, the filly rose to the home straight challenge issued by Amira Dubai (Exceed And Excel) over the heat’s closing stages, before pulling away to win by half a length.
An $80,000 Gold Coast purchase for her trainer from the draft of Kia Ora Stud, Fort Sumter is the first foal out of stakes-performed juvenile winner Huboor (Ire) (More Than Ready {USA}), from the family of champion mare Enable (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}).
Fort Sumter as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
A full brother to Fort Sumter sold for $130,000 to Dynamic Syndications and Dean Watt Bloodstock at the Gold Coast this year. Huboor delivered a filly by Exceedance in 2025 before visiting Prost.
Star Of Jamaica bounces back into action
G2 Skyline Stakes placegetter Star Of Jamaica (Profiteer) ramped up his spring preparations with a sharp victory at the Doomben trials on Tuesday morning. The Chris and Corey Munce-trained gelding was having his second hit-out of the preparation and found the front of the pack as they straightened, continuing to improve towards the line to win by two and a half lengths over Cooper Chase (Pierata).
Video: Watch Stars Of Jamaica at Doomben trials, video courtesy of Racing Queensland
Bought by his trainers for $85,000 from Alma Vale Thoroughbreds at the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale, Star Of Jamaica is the second foal from three-time winner Raziel (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}), who descends from the female family of champion racehorse and sire Grosvenor Square (NZ).
