Sheza Alibi owner Fred Noffke was looking forward to a potential rematch with Autumn Glow over a longer trip after his mare went down to the Chris Waller-trained star in round one of their rivalry on Saturday in the group 1 Winx Stakes (1400m) at Randwick.

The clash of the glamour mares in the first group 1 of the season was the headline act, and it lived up to the hype as Autumn Glow bounced back from her first defeat, in the 2000m Queen Elizabeth Stakes in April, to beat Sheza Alibi by one and a half lengths.

James McDonald had five-year-old Autumn Glow ($1.75) a dream running line spot in fourth from gate three and she took over from leader Midnight Dynamite at the 200m and stole a gap.

Sheza Alibi ($3.50), debuting in weight-for-age company, was slow away from barrier one but made up ground quickly to travel four back on the fence. The Doncaster and Randwick Guineas winner followed Autumn Glow into clear air late but could not make up the ground.

Noffke, who bought Sheza Alibi for $10,000 online as a weanling, was proud of the effort.

“We got a bit more pushed and shoved about, lost a bit of momentum, but overall, yeah, it’s a very strong run,” Noffke said of the Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman-trained four-year-old.

“The 1400 is maybe a tad [short], against such company, but she beat everybody else over 1400, so in the end we’re incredibly proud. Peter was very happy, and Luke was very happy with the run.”

He was looking forward to a potential clash at a mile, where he said Sheza Alibi was world class. That might not come, if Autumn Glow goes towards the 1200m $20 million Everest on October 17, rather than stretching to the mile. That decision will be made in the coming week.

For now, Autumn Glow part-owner and Arrowfield Stud founder John Messara was just relieved and proud of his star after a fourth group 1 win and 12th victory in 13 starts.

“She hadn’t raced a lot of these horses before, so there was a bit of an unknown, and I respect the Victorian filly and I respect Peter Moody as a trainer, he’s no mug, so if he’s coming down, he gives himself a chance,” Messara said.

“Running 1:21.03, it’s a fantastic time, so it was a proper test, she came through OK … I think she’s done enough, hasn’t she?”

It was a 10th win for Waller in the race named after his legendary mare.

“We’ve come out of round one pretty well,” he said of the Sheza Alibi showdown. “I’m sure there’s going to be a round two and three. Peter might make it a best of five.”

As for going to the Everest, where they would face defending champion Ka Ying Rising, Waller said: ”We might be wishing we were racing Sheza Alibi, if we go to the Everest.”

Nash Rawiller picked up a surprise ride on Aeliana after his original booking, stablemate Beiwacht, was scratched on race morning because of a minor temperature.

Aeliana, which finished last, was without a jockey all week and expected to be saved for the Memsie Stakes next week at Caulfield, where Beiwacht will now likely head. Waller also scratched Autumn Boy and Barnavara from the Winx.

Waller was questioned by stewards about the late declaration of Rawiller to ride Aeliana and fined him $500. He told stewards Autumn Boy would instead run in the Memsie.