Graham steals the QTIS Jewel Prelude limelight

By Glenn Davis

It was the Cejay Graham show at Doomben on Saturday when the former champion apprentice claimed two of the three QTIS Jewel Preludes.

Graham later made it a career-equalling best four winners on a Saturday metropolitan track when she won on the Tony Gollan-trained King Kapa in the Open Handicap and Red Defcon in the Class 6 Plate.

Graham's QTIS Jewel Prelude wins came aboard the Liam Birchley-trained Dream Smart in the QTIS 3YO Prelude over 1110 metres and Sunrays for trainer Kelly Schweida in the two-year-old fillies Prelude.

Trainer Robert Heathcote claimed the male’s division of the QTIS 2YO Jewel Prelude following an all-the-way win from Pretty Dubious.

Pretty Dubious, a $32,000 buy as a yearling, overcame some pre-race jitters before downing the well-supported Thee Creek by almost two lengths.

Pretty Dubious, ridden by Vlad Duric, was a bit fizzy parading when he debuted with a strong second at Doomben on February 8 but was slightly better behaved in the yard before breaking his maiden status.

Duric will recommend the son of Dubious wear earmuffs for the QTIS Jewel Final at the Gold Coast on Saturday week.

“Perhaps earmuffs pre-race will help him next time,” Duric said.

“He’s a progressive horse with a bit of anxiety. For the moment 1100 to 1200 metres seems to be his trip but he could get further in the future with more race experience.”

Meanwhile, Dream Smart was held up for a run in the straight before bursting through a gap to down Rockhampton filly Astapor.

“She missed a run the other day when she was hurt on the way down and Liam has done a good job to get her ready for this,” Graham said.

“With 52kgs she sprinted hard and fast and won well when I got the gap.

“She’s a very big horse and I needed a step ladder to get up on her."

Sunrays gave Schweida plenty of concerns before maintaining her unbeaten record with a narrow win.

However, Sunrays is by interstate sire Hellbent, making her ineligible for the QTIS Jewel Final, and will be aimed for the Queensland Racing Carnival.

“She’s not eligible for the QTIS Jewel but for her owner who bred her, it’s all about getting black-type,” Schweida said.

“She’ll have a week or two off now and get ready for the winter carnival.”

Sunrays had to give away a lot of weight to her rivals and looked in trouble when forced wide before the home turn.

She eventually broke away and kicked clear but not without giving Schweida some moments of concern.

“It was a messy race and I don’t know what happened at the start to Rob Heathcote’s horse (Carbonara),” Schweida said.

“It was a bit sick watching her as she was giving away four and five kilos and was caught wide.”