Saturday summary: 'Very, very special' Alibi executes perfect Makybe Diva run

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Sheza Alibi claims third Group 1 scalp in Makybe Diva

Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman’s current wonder mare Sheza Alibi (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}) may have faced her first defeat in some time three weeks ago at the hands of Autumn Glow (The Autumn Sun), but that run did not dent her confidence - nor her ability - going into Saturday’s G1 Makybe Diva Stakes.

It was not to be a fairytale fourth straight win in the race for Mr Brightside (NZ) (Bullbars), nor was it to be victory for the returning Sir Delius (GB) (Frankel {GB}), as Sheza Alibi found an opening in the home straight and cruised to the lead.

Autumn Boy (The Autumn Sun) gave chase just as he had done in two previous clashes at Group 1 level with the mare, but he could only stop the margin from widening past two and three quarter lengths, with Another Wil (Street Boss {USA}) the next quickest home, a further half-length behind. Sir Delius signed off his resumption with fourth-placed finish.

“It's incredibly special,” said co-trainer Coleman. “She loves defying history, this girl, and I think she's going to continue to do it as her career progresses.

“She looked like she did that quite easily today, which is incredible, when you look at the horses that she was up against. She is very, very special and it means so much to our stable. A massive thank you to everyone who has been a part of it.

“She's probably come back more of a finished product this time around. She's always been a lovely horse to look at. She has developed, is bigger and stronger, and hopefully we continue to see that."

Coleman praised the ride of Luke Nolen, who piloted the mare to victory in the G1 Randwick Guineas last autumn before guiding her to her second-placed effort to Autumn Glow, before confirming that the newly anointed G1 Golden Eagle was on the agenda.

“I would say we're still geared towards the Golden Eagle but never make decisions on race day,” she said.

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.

Sheza Alibi’s half-brother Nomadic (King’s Legacy), a $160,000 yearling purchase for his trainer John Thompson, ran third in the G3 TL Baillieu in the autumn.

Savvy Hallie earns Sheraco redemption

Savvy Hallie’s (Hellbent) return in the G3 Toy Show Quality hadn’t been what connections expected, but the mare more than redeemed herself at Rosehill on Saturday when holding on for a gritty victory in the G2 Sheraco Stakes.

Striding out in front as the group began to straighten up, the Brad Widdup-trained mare had to see off a storming home Gangsta Granny (Written Tycoon) by a neck and top quality mare Lazzura (Written Tycoon) in order to secure her third Group 2 win.

"It was good to see her bounce back today,” said Widdup, who indicated the team would consider trying to turn the mare’s Group 1 potential into a reality this spring.

“Obviously the Manikato Stakes is there, plus there are good races here at home and we have got the Invitation and things like that. But we will get her home, make sure she is right and go from there.

"She is a Group 1 horse, no worries there, but that is easier said than done. Nash (Rawiller) was positive and that is her at her best."

Widdup admitted that the looming G1 Manikato Stakes field looked like a particularly strong one, but was hopeful to add to the mare’s record again with her next few runs.

"I would love to run her in The Invitation, hopefully they will give us an invitation,” he said. “It would be nice to stay here but we will have a look at Melbourne.”

Sales: A $150,000 Magic Millions Gold Coast National Weanling Sale purchase for Belmont Bloodstock Agency (FBAA) from Baramul Stud, Savvy Hallie was offered the following year at the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale, where B K Racing and Breeding secured her for $320,000 from Riverstone Lodge’s draft.

Pedigree: Savvy Hallie is the second foal from dual winner Rose Of Savannah (Fastnet Rock), a granddaughter of New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year Savannah Success (Success Express {USA}), dam of New Zealand’s multiple Champion Sire Savabeel.

Savvy Hallie’s half-sister Katoto (Wootton Bassett {GB}) is in the stable of Chris Waller and earned herself black-type at her third start when third in the Listed Bill Carter Stakes last season. Pike Racing bought her Home Affairs half-sister for NZ$200,000 at the New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale this year, and Rose of Savannah has a yearling filly by Reliable Man (GB) and filly foal at foot by I Am Invincible to follow.

Golden Eagle goal on track as Skyhook claims Theo Marks

Multiple Group winner Skyhook (Written Tycoon) added another all important win to his record with Rosehill’s G2 Theo Marks Stakes as the entire aims to make a bid for the $10 million Golden Eagle in its inaugural year as a Group 1.

Given a cushy run behind the pacemakers, the Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou trainee made his play in the home straight to go past leader Sandpaper (Snitzel) and proved too sharp to catch by a margin of just over a length. Consistent galloper Magnatear (Written Tycoon) lifted to cement a quinella for their sire, just ahead of Verona Rose (Castelvecchio).

Only one horse logically stands in everyone’s way for the Golden Eagle - Sheza Alibi - but Ryan and Alexiou showed no fear about aiming for the event anyway.

"What if Sheza Alibi doesn't come for the Golden Eagle?,'' Alexiou said. "You never run away from one horse and the Golden Eagle has been our aim for some months now. Since his Brisbane campaign, we have basically worked backwards from the Golden Eagle and we thought how we could get him there in his best form.''

The singular aim means that the G1 Epsom Handicap on October 3 is off the agenda. The team knows what Group 1 they want to add to the entire's resume.

"There will be no Epsom,'' Ryan said. "If he went to the Epsom, he would have to run in the Shannon Stakes the Saturday before and I don't think he is a back-up horse.

"We might look at the Alan Brown Stakes which is four weeks away so this means he could go to the Shannon in two weeks. But this horse has won Group races as a two, three and 4-year-old now, and the aim is to try and win a Group 1 with him.''

Sales: Skyhook was a $575,000 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale purchase for his trainers from the Arrowfield Stud draft, and belongs to a syndicate that includes Matthew Ennis of Stallion Match.

Pedigree: Skyhook is out of Madame Pauline (Redoute’s Choice), a winning half-sister to Anders, as well as Listed winners Ostraka (Pariah) and Caffe Florian (Snitzel) and the stakes performers Battleground (Snitzel) and Satin Love (Snitzel). Their dam Madame Andree is the only daughter of the talented but subfertile War Emblem (USA) in Australia.

Glee Lee Thoroughbreds offered Madame Pauline’s Dundeel (NZ) yearling colt at the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale this year, where he was bought by Monarch Racing, Paul Moroney, and Catheryne Bruggeman for $120,000. She delivered a colt by Castelvecchio in August.

Losesomewinmore downs top flight field to win Bobbie Lewis

Seven-year-old Losesomewinmore (All Too Hard) defeated one of the deepest fields he has ever faced when claiming a first Group win in Flemington’s G2 Bobbie Lewis Handicap on Saturday.

Set against a field including proven Group 1 performers Desert Lightning (NZ) (Pride Of Dubai), Arkansaw Kid (Harry Angel {Ire}), and Hedged (Capitalist), the Richard and Chantelle Jolly trainee hunted down the inside of the straight track to score victory by a half-length over Hedged, with Enxuto (Lean Mean Machine) in third.

Richard Jolly said that the team had flourished since the setup of a Flemington satellite stable for the Adelaide-based training duo.

"In previous years, we have been going back and forth with them," he said. "He's based here and it makes life easier and we will get another run or two out of him than we would normally get."

Jockey Craig Williams had been positive about the inside gate, which gave Jolly confidence ahead of the run.

"Craig said before the race that we had drawn in, so we might as well not look to be getting out," he said. "He thought the track was pretty even and we would be better to take those inside runs as there would be room there and it worked out brilliantly."

The G2 Gilgai Stakes presents itself as the sprinter’s next target, with Jolly indicating they would keep him to his favoured straight track where possible.

Sales: Simple Bloodstock Services purchased Losesomewinmore for $80,000 from Vinery Stud’s draft at the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale in 2021.

Pedigree: Losesomewinmore is the best of three winners for Raischek (Mossman), a full sister to G3 SAJC Sires' Produce Stakes winner Stirling Grove as well as a half-sister to Olive (All Too Hard), dam of G3 Heath Stakes winner Oliveanotherday (Nicconi), who was fifth in the Bobbie Lewis behind his close relation.

Raischek’s second dam Kirtlington (Scenic {Ire}) has been a prolific ancestress, with her descendants including dual Group 3 winner She’s Bulletproof (Shooting To Win), G1 Emirates Stakes winner Hucklebuck (Elvstroem), G2 Thousand Guineas Prelude winner Bon’s A Pearla (Bon Hoffa), and last season’s Listed Woodlands Stakes winner Queen Regent (Wild Ruler).

Pondalowie breaks two-year dry spell in Let’s Elope

It had been a long time between drinks for Emma-Lee and David Browne’s Pondalowie (Deep Field), but the mare more than redeemed herself with a breakthrough Group win in the G2 Let’s Elope Stakes at Flemington to close out Saturday.

It was no easy victory down the straight either, with the mare ending up almost last in the field of 12 with 200 metres to run, and not that much closer at the 100-metre mark. On Display (Fastnet Rock) looked to have the race in the bag, but with a driving ride from Lachlan Neindorf, the daughter of Deep Field surged to the front to win by a nose from Too Darn Discreet (Too Darn Hot {GB}), with On Display a head further back in third.

Co-trainer David Browne admitted it was quite the shock finish, especially when the game seemed all over at the top of the final furlong.

"I thought 'we're no hope there',” he said. “Early in the race, I thought we were a bit of a hope because the favourite got caught wide and deep and did enough work, but then we were pocketed so bad, I thought, ‘we'll get home good when it gets out'.

"I wasn't expecting to do that. She has promised it for a long time, but I can't believe she's delivered."

The mare has had mixed luck on and off the track that has seen her only run 22 times so far, but Browne was full of praise for her ability.

"She can gallop and sprint like a horse we've never had and today she showed it,” he said.

Sales: A $90,000 Magic Millions Gold Coast National Weanling Sale purchase for Prima Park and Bevan Smith Bloodstock, she was pinhooked at the New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale, where she sold for NZ$150,000 to Sparta Racing.

Pedigree: Pondalowie is the first stakes winner from three multiple winners for Glorious Red (Red Element), who descends from G2 Surround Stakes winner Khaptivaan (Adraan {GB}), dam of G1 Oakleigh Plate winner Khaptingly (Bletchingly). This family has also thrown Group 3 winner Sheezallmine (NZ) (Super Easy {NZ}).