Racing
Gold Coast Saturday: Grafterburners out to justify favouritism
Kelly Schweida’s star colt Grafterburners has made three powerful statements to claim favouritism for the Magic Millions Sunlight at the Gold Coast on Saturday.
But the biggest test awaits the three-year-old son of Graff who has to overcome a drop back in distance after a hat-trick of 1200-metre wins to 1100 metres in the $3 million feature.
The tight turning Gold Coast track also can be a graveyard for some horses.
However, Schweida is a shrewd trainer and knows the pitfalls of running at the Gold Coast and is heartened by Grafterburners having won the Listed QTIS Jewel there in March.
It was one of five wins, Grafterburners has notched up in his 11-start career.
Grafterburners completed a hat-trick of wins last start in the Listed Gold Edition Stakes at Eagle Farm on December 20 which followed his sensational win in the Listed Pierata Plate at Doomben two weeks earlier.
In early TAB markets, Grafterburners is a $2.80 favourite ahead of the David Pfieffer-trained Ice Kool at $4.50.
"He had a week out in the paddock after his last win and he's come back fresh as a daisy," Schweida said.
"He's had two runs at the Gold Coast and won the QTIS Jewel in March last year.
"It's definitely better if they've had a run on the track."
Grafterburners slot has been snapped up by Sydney's champion training force of Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott.
It came as no real surprise to Schweida to have champion jockey James McDonald ride the colt in the Magic Millions Sunlight despite Cejay Graham partnering him in four of his five victories.
However, Graham hasn't missed out on a ride in The Sunlight as champion trainer Tony Gollan has booked her for Foreign Press.
Graham has ridden Foreign Press seven times for five wins and two placings including the Listed Mode Plate at Doomben on December 6.
Schweida has always had a big opinion of Grafterburners who was far from disgraced finishing sixth in both the Group 2 Sires Produce Stakes and Group 1 J J Atkins during the Queensland Racing Carnival in the winter.
He also placed on a heavy track in the Group 2 Champagne Classic at Doomben in May.
Schweida will see how Grafterburners performs in the Magic Millions Sunlight before finalising the colt's future.
"There's two options for him after Saturday," Schweida said.
"He can go to Melbourne for the $1 million Inglis Sprint next month or he can stay at home and run in The QTIS Jewel again in March," he said.
"It'll be up to the owners but if he stays here, he'll be in his own backyard whereas you never know what he might run into in Melbourne."
Schweida won last year's Inglis Sprint at Flemington with El Morzillo.
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