The worth of race names is emphasised by Saturday’s Run To The Rose that lacks the punch of Flemington’s Makybe Diva Stakes in which Sheza Alibi is out to buck hurdles.
Thus Sheza Alibi is out to break a losing streak in the Flemington weight-for-age event with the guile of Craig Williams on Sir Delius another threat.
Obviously the Makybe Diva generates memories of a champion, winner of three Melbourne Cups and vision splendid in the Cox Plate, while the Run To The Rose at Rosehill is just four words, a lead-up to the $1 million Golden Rose in which the prizemoney more than the title resonates.
Until 2006 from the inception in 1948, it was known as the Craiglee Stakes, a tag that did nought to stimulate the racing appetite.
Yes, we of vintage are rusted into tradition but greats are worthy of constant recall adding substance to a race.
After Saleous won the 1996 Craiglee, 49 mares have gone around in the event for one winner, Southern Speed (2012). Quality has not been lacking.
For instance, in the last two Via Sistina, who accumulated over $19 million in prizemoney, was favourite without success.
In 2025 Via Sistina was a $1.80, ended third to Mr Brightside, who chases his fourth consecutive triumph in the weight-for-age age sprint on Saturday.
Now a nine-year-old Mr Brightside had the benefit of Williams who has switched to Sir Delius, mistress minded by Gai Waterhouse, now with the assistance of Adrian Bott. Sir Delius ended the winning streak of Autumn Glow last start over 2000 metres in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Randwick. The gamble against Sheza Alibi is whether the stallion will be as good when resuming over Saturday’s 1600 metres.
Jockeys these days have trouble with weight-for-age navigation. Mr Brightside scored in the corresponding event last year allowing Williams to dictate a farcical tempo.
Only last Saturday Nash Rawiller was given a picnic in front on Lindermann in the wfa Chelmsford at Randwick prompting the Rating Bureau’s Daniel O’Sullivan to comment: “The other riders erred by not moving sooner, particularly between the 600 metres and 400 metres …plenty made ground late but they had been left in a near impossible position.”
Still the pace should be sound in the Makybe Diva as Light Infantry Man as well as Mr Brightside will go forward and Sir Delius, under Williams, will not dawdle back in the ruck.
Sheza Alibi is top class and has accumulated the Randwick Guineas and Doncaster, both Group One metric miles in the autumn.
Sure, she was downed over a length by the outstanding Autumn Glow in the Winx Stakes, another event given enhanced prominence due to the label, over 1400 metres on August 22.
But she began slow, and starts cannot be given to Autumn Glow. Sheza Alibi may not have beaten her, but would have finished closer.
Alas Sheza Alibi was $1.70 on Friday, in a strong field. Chris Waller had four left before Saturday. Autumn Boy, prepared by him, has been eclipsed twice by Sheza Alibi but the four-year-old is capable of improving. Waller’s Buckeroo and Birdman are accomplished Group one horses while the former New Zealander Ohope Wins, an ATC Oaks victor, a latecomer to his stable is untapped.
Waller has a prime side in the OTTR: Fireball, Tron Bolt, St Gotthard, and Central Europe. He is prone to Saturday scratchings.
By comparison Sheza Alibi picked up for $10,000 in an Inglis online auction is a “penny dreadful” the term legendary trainer Tommy Smith gave to cheap purchases, an amount that would not cover up the daily feed bill for horses owned by Yulong Investments, sponsors for the RTTR which has an honour roll deserving of a better name.
Consider Tempted, Anamoe, Bivouac, Pierro and Smart Missile.
Anyway Yulong will be represented in the 1200 metre Group Two by Under Focus, a $300,000 yearling. Under Focus, tuned by Kris Lees with the benefit of Dylan Gibbons, under-rated by very capable, went back from a wide gate and struck trouble last start.
Unfortunately Rosehill recently has had a gatling gun attendance, meaning if the weapon was cut loose nobody would be hit. Randwick, too, last Saturday, around 6,000, was disappointing after coming off a booming 3,650 at Wyong on a non-holiday Friday, excellent considering 1600 was acceptable before CEO Greg Purcell took the reins a few years back.
