Grafterburners’ time in the sun

By Brodie Nickson

It was a popular victory in the second running of the $3 million Sunlight at the Gold Coast to launch the Magic Millions Carnival as local star Grafterburners dominated his rivals.

Kelly Schweida’s gun three-year-old colt was the popular favourite for the Sunlight following an undefeated preparation.

After stamping himself in his first run as a three-year-old when bolting in at Eagle Farm under apprentice Corey Sutherland, he won the Pierata Plate and the Listed Gold Edition Plate on his way to the Gold Coast.

Opening equal $5 pre-nomination favourite for the slot race with TAB weeks before the Sunlight, Grafterburners shortened every week as he dominated his local rivals.

Eventually opening favourite in the final field, the booking of champion jockey James McDonald saw his price crunched into $2.25 by the jump.

As expected, he got a McDonald special, using barrier two to settle behind the leaders and although there were some anxious moments, he showed his customary strength to quickly put a margin on his opposition when the gap came and won comfortably.

The victory took his record to six wins in 12 starts, having now pocketed over $2 million in prizemoney.

The $70,000 yearling purchase is the latest emerging star sporting Glenn Betts’ orange silks to be trained by Schweida.

The long-time friends have enjoyed great success together. Last year El Morzillo was Group 2 placed as a two-year-old before winning the $1 million Inglis Sprint at Flemington and the pair may be heading south again to target the same race with Grafterburners.

“I have known Glenn probably 40 years,” Schweida said.

“I’m an old Townsville boy. He puts a lot of money in and a lot of time selecting his yearlings.”

Similar to El Morzillo, Schweida thought enough of Grafterburners as a two-year-old to travel him to Sydney.

He got back in the field and did his best work late to finish fourth in the $1 million Inglis Millenium at Randwick.

It was a decision Schweida believes may have helped mature him from a “pretty boy” to a three-year-old beast.

“He has always been a pretty boy,” Schweida said.

“He hadn’t changed a lot [physically], just the older they get, these colts, the thicker they get.

“He has always been able to gallop. When we took him to Sydney for that race, he ran fourth and there were some really good horses around him. Another hop and he runs third.

“You get a trip away with them, get that different race experience. You are down there with the elite and they are big races, so I definitely think it did.”

Grafterburners enjoyed a fantastic two-year-old season, dominating the $500,000 Two-Year-Old QTIS Jewel with a brilliant win from barrier 15 at the Gold Coast before performing bravely in the winter in the Queensland Racing Carnival.

“[He] was in work for a long time for the carnival and he ran into some pretty heavy tracks there. And, to be fair, [Cool Archie] was too good for us 1400m to a mile,” Schweida said.

Grafterburners was enormous, travelling four-wide no cover throughout in the Group 2 Spirit Of Boom Classic at Doomben behind Cool Archie. 

He had run into Chris and Corey Munce’s star colt through the entire preparation, culminating in the JJ Atkins.

“I don’t know whether [it was] because he was at the end of a long campaign, but they are only excuses. He beat us fair and square,” Schweida said.

“At 1200m all his runs have been pretty good. Whether he gets out in trip later on I’m not sure. His father never won past 1300m but his mother’s side won an Arc, I think, and an Irish Derby.”

Following an impressive barrier trial at Eagle Farm, the Sunlight wasn’t immediately on Schweida’s radar.

“The original plan we didn’t think we would get in the slot race. We were going 1200m, 1200m, 1200m and into the Vo Rogue,” he said.

“Though [Cool Archie] would be there, which was a bit of a worry for us. Then we got offered a slot and $3 million races don’t come around very often - that is probably what the Stradbroke is worth.

“We geared it so he would have three weeks between his last run and [the Sunlight], had a little freshen up, a week out on the water walker and grass paddock during the day.”

Often getting back in his races as a two-year-old, Grafterburners added a lethal string to his bow as a three-year-old, exhibiting early speed that allowed him to dictate most of his opposition.

“He got right back in his first few runs. Being a two-year-old colt he didn’t have much interest,” Schweida said.

“This time around he seems to have a bit more focus and, probably with a bit of race experience I suppose, he has been able to hold a spot.”

Although the winter carnival is in the distance, Grafterburners is already being stamped as potentially Queensland’s leading chance for the $3 million Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap.

“I am not sure [about Grafterburners’ immediate plans]. It is all a bit early,” Schweida said.

“The original plan was to run [in the Sunlight] and either go into the 3YO Jewel in early March or he’s eligible for the $1 million (Inglis Sprint) at Flemington that El Morzillo went in last year.

“They were the short-term goals and I say we will still go into one of those races and get him back and get him ready for the (winter) carnival.”