Sheza Alibi confirmed her place among Australia’s leading racehorses on September 12 with a dominant victory in the Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes at Flemington.
Ridden by Luke Nolen for trainers Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman, the mare travelled strongly before accelerating clear in the straight. She won by two and three quarter lengths from Autumn Boy, with Another Wil third.
History at Flemington
Sheza Alibi became the first female horse to win the Makybe Diva Stakes since the race was elevated to Group 1 status in 2013. The performance was especially notable because the race had repeatedly proved difficult for mares in recent seasons.
OTB Bet previewed the challenge in the Makybe Diva Stakes preview, with three time defending winner Mr Brightside among the established names in the field. Sheza Alibi instead produced the defining performance of the race.
A major spring statement
The Makybe Diva Stakes is one of the important early Group 1 races of the Australian spring. Sheza Alibi entered with elite mile form and left Flemington with another major victory, strengthening her position among the leading horses for the major races ahead.
The official Victoria Racing Club report described the win as a decisive performance in front of more than 13,000 racegoers. Autumn Boy finished strongly for second, while Another Wil held third.
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Image credit: Photo by Jeff Griffith on Unsplash.
