Australian Guineas off autumn radar for Sheza Alibi

Sheza Alibi, the early favourite for the Australian Guineas, is unlikely to contest the Group 1 race after co-trainer Peter Moody confirmed a change to her autumn campaign.

Moody told Racing.com on Tuesday that the filly will skip her planned return at Flemington and instead run at Caulfield the following week.

“I spoke with her owner, Mr Fred Noffke, and we’ve decided not to run her on Saturday, which makes it highly unlikely she will run in the Australian Guineas,” Moody said.

The Saxon Warrior filly is now expected to kick off in the Group 2 Armanasco Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield next Saturday as part of her lead-up to the Randwick Guineas on March 7.

“She’s worked very well but needed a little extra recovery time. She looks fantastic, maybe even a touch too fit, so we gave her an extra week,” Moody said.

Sheza Alibi emerged as a horse to follow from last year’s spring carnival after her first campaign under Moody and co-trainer Katherine Coleman ended with successive wins in the Group 3 Vanity Stakes and Group 2 Sandown Guineas.