Impressive First Winner for Graff and a Quinella!

Tara Madgwick - Wednesday December 18

Standing at Kitchwin Hills, brilliantly fast Group II winning sprinter Graff is on the board with his first winner after the well named colt Grafterburners produced a dazzling last to first win at Ipswich on Wednesday.

Trained by Kelly Schweida and ridden by Cejay Graham, Grafterburners showed some ability with a debut third at the Gold Coast last month behind Brazen Sailor and obviously took good benefit from the experience.

Stepped up to 1100m and taking on Brazen Sailor again, Grafterburners found himself last turning for home and was the widest runner into the straight.  

He let down with an impressive turn of foot to charge past his rivals to win by two lengths over the Annabel Neasham and Rob Archibald trained first starter Royal Chic, who is also by Graff, with Brazen Sailor in third place.

Grafterburners was a $70,000 Inglis Classic purchase for his trainer from the Canning Downs Stud draft and is the fourth winner from five foals to race from well bred Coralina, an unraced half-sister by Dylan Thomas (IRE) to Group I ATC Golden Slipper winner Overreach (dam of Group II winner Lofty Strike) and Group II winning sprinter Standout.

Advertisement

Grafterburners was a $70,000 Inglis Classic purchase.

There is a lot of elite juvenile speed in this female family that also includes the likes of G1 Blue Diamond winner and sire Reward for Effort, so Grafterburners may be worth following into better class.

Runner-up Royal Chic started favourite and was the most expensive yearling for her sire Graff when fetching $350,000 at Magic Millions. She was secured by Rogerson Bloodstock and connections will be disappointed she didn’t win and earn some more prizemoney towards a start in the Magic Millions 2YO Classic next month.

Royal Chic is a half-sister to Group I winning sprinter Royal Merchant from Seventh Chic and Amarina Farm will offer the next yearling from the mare at Magic Millions with the Palace Pier (GB) colt to be offered as Lot 909.

Graff is an impressive individual.

A big strong powerful type by Star Witness, Graff stood this spring at a fee of $9,900 and has just three entries for Magic Millions and three for Inglis Classic.

Advertisment

Race Result - Coastal Vehicle Solutions Hcp 1100m

Ipswich Track: Soft(7) Time: 1:05.29
1
Grafterburners
- 2c Graff (AUS) x Coralina (AUS) (Dylan Thomas (IRE))
Tnr: K M Schweida Rdr: Cejay Graham 56
2
2
Royal Chic
- 2f Graff (AUS) x Seventhchic (AUS) (Seventh Reason (AUS))
Tnr: Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald Rdr: Bailey Wheeler 54
3
3.2
Brazen Sailor
- 2c North Pacific (AUS) x Commute (AUS) (Denman (AUS))
Tnr: L F Birchley Rdr: R Wiggins 57
4
4.1
Mishani Treasure
- 2f The Mission (AUS) x Mishani Mystery (AUS) (Benfica (AUS))
Tnr: Donna Stanbridge Rdr: Rob Thorburn 52
5
4.9
Wild Bean
- 2c Spirit Of Boom (AUS) x Lucyianna (AUS) (Nothing To Lose (USA))
Tnr: D J Hansen Rdr: M R Du Plessis 56
6
5.9
All Too Late
- 2f All Too Hard (AUS) x After Thought (AUS) (So You Think (NZ))
Tnr: Chris & Corey Munce Rdr: S T Collett 54
7
6.1
Mishani Pearl
- 2f The Mission (AUS) x Mishani Silva (AUS) (Bradbury's Luck (AUS))
Tnr: Donna Stanbridge Rdr: Ms G Cartwright 54
8
8.1
Shemakesmenervous
- 2f Power (GB) x Hay Now (AUS) (Bradbury's Luck (AUS))
Tnr: Michael Nolan Rdr: Angela Jones 54.5
9
8.2
Happy Coffee
- 2f Cosmic Force (AUS) x Happy Every Day (AUS) (Pierro (AUS))
Tnr: James Moore Rdr: Luke Tarrant 54
10
13.2
Milestone
- 2f Whittington (AUS) x River Flyer (AUS) (Hidden Dragon (AUS))
Tnr: J W Healy Rdr: Damien Thornton 53.5
11
28.6
Unsure Miss
- 2f Pierata (AUS) x Unsure (AUS) (Kuroshio (AUS))
Tnr: Ryan Tyrell Rdr: Dale Smith 55
More Reading...
Magic Millions Horses in Training Sale-Topper Salutes
Bought by Yulong for $700,000 to top the Magic Millions Horses in Training Sale last year, three year-old Justify (USA) colt Officiate opened his account with a determined win in testing conditions at Canterbury on Wednesday.
Trainers Rewarded with Continued NZB Ready to Run Series
With the continued long-term support of Majestic Horse Transport and Dunstan Horsefeeds, NZB is pleased to announce that the Ready to Run Sale Trainers Series will return for its sixth edition this season, kicking off on Saturday at two venues. ? 
Break Through Win for Promising Pierro Stayer
Placed in the Group I New Zealand Derby behind Willydoit, talented young stayer Golden Century has been long overdue to break through for a maiden win and he got the job done at Canterbury on Wednesday.
Are You Sending a Mare to Cogburn?
Book 1 of the Keeneland September Yearling Sale concluded on Tuesday with the rise of exciting young sire Not This Time as a big player on the world stage well and truly illustrated with 22 of his yearlings selling at an average $805,682.
Another Impressive New Winner St Mark’s Basilica
A colt that holds entries for several upcoming Group races, Piazza San Marco became the 12th winner for Coolmore shuttler St Mark’s Basilica (FR) when bolting in at Galway overnight.
Keeneland September Record Breaking Book 1 Concludes
Trade at Tuesday’s second session of the Keeneland September Yearling Sale continued the enthusiasm for Thoroughbred racing prospects shown during Monday’s opening day with nearly $75 million in sales and a September Sale record session average of $675,180 and median of $550,000. Twenty yearlings sold for $1 million or more to set a Day 2 session record. 
Karaka Graduates Honoured at New Zealand Horse of the Year Awards
The champions of New Zealand’s 2024-25 season were crowned during the Horse of the Year Awards in Hamilton on Sunday night, where four Karaka graduates were named the standouts of their respective categories.
Promising Ole Kirk 3yo Regal Award Simply Too Good
Improving off a last start fifth behind Space Rider over 1200m at Moonee Valley, the Phillip Stokes trained Regal Award didn’t disappoint as the race favourite in Sportsbet BlackBook Plate (1300m) on the Sandown Hillside course on Wednesday, scoring with ease.
I Am Invincible Stallion Chasing Black Type in NZ
Tardelli has the looks to match his rich pedigree, and his upcoming preparation will be focussed on adding a top level performance to boost his future stallion prospects.
Debut Farnan Winner for Pencarrow Stud
Three-year-old filly Passiflora showed promise at the trials and transferred that potential into raceday success when scoring on debut in the NZ Horse Ambulance 970 at Cambridge on Wednesday.