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Peter Moody & Katherine Coleman‘s boom mare, Sheza Alibi, confirmed her status as one of Australia’s elite milers with a dominant victory for the punters in the 2026 Makybe Diva Stakes results at Flemington on Sunday with the four-year-old securing her third Group 1 mile victory.

The brilliant and still progressive young daughter of Saxon Warrior took her career earnings up over $4.3 million at just her 12th start as the former Queenslander continued her 1600m dominance in an effortless display in this year’s Group 1 $750,000 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) at HQ.

Having completed the Randwick Guineas – Doncaster Mile double in Sydney last prep as a filly, Sheza Alibi proved she was just as effective in Melbourne’s elite weight-for-age ranks when running her rivals ragged as the odds-on favourite for a nearly three-length demolition job second-up for the spring.

After kicking off her campaign with a brave second behind Chris Waller’s more seasoned superstar Autumn Glow in the Group 1 Winx Stakes (1400m) at Randwick on August 22, Sheza Alibi headed south for the Makybe Diva and relished a field absent of her last start conqueror as well as the step up to her pet 1600m distance.

With regular rider Luke Nolen aboard once more, she cruised home by 2.75 lengths over the Waller-trained Autumn Boy ($20) with Ciaron Maher‘s rank outsider Another Wil ($101) running out of his skin for a surprise third; the Makybe Diva Stakes 2026 winner igniting a flurry of spring betting moves across multiple majors with her standout performance.

Sheza Alibi ($1.60) was simply in a different class, jumping cleanly, travelling sweetly and stalking the speed under Nolen before unleashing her trademark turn of foot to put the race away in a few strides.

She stopped the clock in 1:35.34 defeating her competition with ease to take her record to 12 starts for 8 wins, 3 seconds and 1 third, and co?trainer Katherine Coleman was glowing in her praise post?race, calling Sheza Alibi “incredibly special” and a mare who “loves defying history”.

“She looked like she did that quite easily today… she is very, very special and it means so much to our stable,” Coleman said.

She noted the mare had returned this prep as “more of a finished product”, bigger, stronger and more physically complete.

“She began better today. She put herself there, travelled sweetly. It was a beautiful ride from Luke,” Coleman said.

Coleman confirmed that Sheza Alibi’s spring bid was likely to see her target the lucrative Group 1 $10 million Golden Eagle (1500m) at Randwick on October 31, but that options were open for the talented and versatile stable ace.

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

Winning jockey Nolen — who has partnered many Moody-trained stars including the GOAT sprinter Black Caviar — was equally impressed.

“We don’t know her ceiling yet… she’s all racehorse,” he said.

Nolen admitted he was “giggling on the turn” as he stalked the key dangers.

“I ended up being the hunter and it suits this filly just fine,” he said.

He also reflected on his long association with maestro trainer Moody.

“We’ve stuck pretty fat, like s*** to a blanket… I really suit his system and that’s why I’ve been laced to it since my early 20s,” he said.

Sheza Alibi is now the commanding $1.60 favourite in futures Golden Eagle 2026 betting at Ladbrokes, but her outstanding win also saw her firm in futures markets for a host of other upcoming elite levels.

Ladbrokes Cox Plate odds for a potential step up to 2040m for the $6 million classic, run for the first time this year at Flemington on October 24, for Sheza Alibi have firmed at the race sponsor from $13 into $8.

Current all-in Cox Plate favourite Sir Delius could only manage fourth behind her in the Makybe Diva Stakes finishing order, but with his best yet to come over more distance jockey Craig Williams was impressed by the return by the Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott-trained galloper.

“Adrian Bott and Gai Waterhouse, the horse’s trainers have done a really good job,” Williams said.

“His best distance is when he can dominate over 18 (hundred metres) and beyond, so they had him nice and fresh and fit enough for today.

“Nearly the first half of the race was lovely for us, then it changed complexion and we had no favours – we were on a limb in a sit-sprint event and it doesn’t suit him – but he really powered on and he pulled up nicely.

“I think once he gets out to the distance that we’ve seen his best form that he dominates, then I’m very happy the way his first up run was.”

Sheza Alibi also holds an Epsom Handicap nomination for the Randwick Group 1 mile feature on October 3, firming from $4.80 into $4 as the second favourite behind Makybe Diva Stakes runner?up Autumn Boy.

The beaten jockeys were full of admiration, with Mark Zahra declaring he “couldn’t have been happier” with Autumn Boy’s run.

“Followed the mayor (Sheza Alibi) everywhere, you know she’s got a scintillating turn of foot, but he’s stuck on that well for a second,” he said.

For Sheza Alibi, the Makybe Diva Stakes was yet another reminder of her extraordinary talent — a mare who has already conquered Sydney’s biggest miles and now shapes as the headline act of the spring.

Whether she heads to the Golden Eagle, the Cox Plate, or even the Epsom Handicap, one thing is clear: Australia’s most exciting mare is only getting better.

2026 Makybe Diva Stakes Results