Going three straight this time in and securing his first black type victory, the Listed BRC Gold Edition Plate (1200m) victory by Kelly Schweida’s 3yo Graff colt Grafterburners further enhanced his chances leading into the $3m TAB Magic Millions Sunlight Classic (1100m).
With the announcement during the week that Grafterburners would race in the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott slot in the Sunlight Classic on January 10, the 3yo colt jumped away the short-priced favourite at Eagle Farm on Saturday.
Zoustar colt Prestar from the Tony and Calvin McEvoy yard jumped the best, taking up the running while Cejay Graham had Grafterburners securing a lovely run in third on the rail.
When the home turn was reached, Graham pulled off the rails and came around the leading duo to put Grafterburners into a challenging position.
The acceleration of Grafterburners was superior to anything else in the field, skipping clear to record success, with the Michael Freedman trained Sylph, the I Am Invincible half-sister to Group 1 winner Booker, running on to take second and record back to back stakes placed efforts.
Coming from back in the field in what was a positive run, the Ciaron Maher trained Icarian Dream took third.
“We will go to the slot race now,” Schweida said.
“The Vo Rogue might have suited him, but it's (Sunlight) a $3 million race so that's where we will go.”
Taking his overall record to five wins and a further three placing’s from 11 starts, Grafterburners took his earnings to $832,800, a positive return on his $70,000 Inglis Classic yearling sale purchase from the draft of his breeders Canning Downs Stud.
Grafterburners is the one of five winners and the lone stakes winner from six runners out of Coralina, an unraced Dylan Thomas half-sister to Group 1 Golden Slipper winner Overreach (dam of Group 2 winner Lofty Strike) and the Group 2 winner Standout.
Extending back to the family of Group 1 winner Reward For Effort and Magic Millions 2YO Classic winner Catnipped, Coralina has unfortunately had no luck since foaling Grafterburners with her Jonker colt passing away after birth while she missed in the following two season to Extreme Warrior and the Jonker.
Grafterburners is the lone stakes winner amongst nine winners for the Kitchwin Hills based Graff, who has stood this season at a fee of $9,900 (inc. GST).
