Chambers Weaves Magic on Sheza Alibi in $100,000 Cluden Classic

Rockhampton jockey Tasha Chambers knew she’d make an inside winning run on Sheza Alibi in Saturday’s $100,000 Lawrence & Hanson 2YO Classic at Cluden Park.

Chambers, 45, a hard toiling battler, walked the Cluden track in the morning and locked in a plan to hunt for gaps.

The plan worked to a tee when the lightly raced Sheza Alibi burst through a needle eye-opening inside the last 200m to upstage local hero Satisfied Mugs in the big juvenile feature.

“I just love riding the horses work and you form a relationship with them,” Chambers said.

“I know what I’ve got underneath me with her. When I walked the track this morning I was looking at how good the going was inside.

“I know how bold and brave she is because at track work, for a two-year-old, she won’t shy at other horses. When they’ve got that sort of confidence I knew she’d take those tight runs and I knew we’d be going up on the inside.

“When you’re on a good horse you can take those small gaps.

“Once she took the run, she really lengthened. I saw Ash Butler (Satisfied Mugs) in front and she was just gaining speed and zipped straight past him.”

Sheza Alibi went into the race at just her third start after a second on debut, followed by an impressive maiden win on her home track Rockhampton.

Chambers, trainer Kris Hansen and owner central Queensland grazier Fred Nofke went into the Classic all confident the filly had the strength and class to win at 1200m.

For Chambers, who has a jockey-trainers’ dual licence, the win was a personal triumph in an on-going battle for opportunities.

“I won the Pallarenda here with Age Of Aquarius which I trained and rode myself and that was very satisfying but today was pretty special,”: Chambers said.

“I ride her work every day and trial her all the time. I rode her in her first start and she ran second and I got suspended that day.

“But I was always locked in for today thanks to Fred and Kris.

“They stuck with me - I’ve ridden quite a few winners for Fred over the past 12 months.

“I’d rather ride than train but I took out a training licence to get more opportunities because it’s been so hard to get a go.

“I’ve just stuck at it and had to claw for every opportunity and when I get a good win I know I’ve worked hard for it.”

Hansen, who only started training earlier this year continued his dream run at Cluden after also claiming the $60,000 QTIS Northern Jewel at Cluden last month with Astra Star.

He and Nofke were convinced to set Sheza Alibi for the Classic after her maiden win.

“She’s got a lot of ability and is still very green but everything is starting to come together with her,” Hansen said.

“I’ll take her home and see how she pulls up, have a talk with Fred and go from there.

“Tash helps us out and it’s great to give her the opportunity. It was a perfect ride, 10 out of 10 ride.

“I’ll be coming back for the carnival with probably Astra Star and possibly this filly and another one.”

Nofke, who has a property outside Rockampton, has made a substantial investment in racing in recent years and estimates the number of horses he owns is in the low 20s.

“It’s an amazing feeling winning today and it validates some of the expenditure,” Nofke said with a wry grin.

“I had 30 horses and whittled them back into the low 20s this year. I think we had seven two-year-olds this year and six of them are ready to go.

“I buy young horses. I want to name them. And if I can breed them, name them and race them even better. I bought a lot of fillies with that in mind.

“I’ve three or four with Kris at the moment and they go backwards and forwards to my place where I spell them.

“As they say treat them like champions until they prove otherwise.”

Meanwhile, exciting galloper Tambo’s Justice recorded his fifth straight win in the Clipsal BM 65 Hcp 1400m.

The unbeaten son of Justify again won by a slender margin but jockey Aidan Holt said he had more to give.

“He was always going to win. He waits for them a bit but he gives you that feel that he won’t let them head him,” Holt said.

The win also kept Holt’s wife Georgie one win in front of Cairns trainer Stephen Massingham in the race for the Townsville trainers’ premiership with 17wins.

Massingham also landed a winner with his only starter for the day, Stats in the Ladbrokes Open Hcp (1400m).