By Danny Matthews (Racing & Sports)
After a trip to Sydney and finishing less two-lengths away from genuine Golden Slipper chances, Grafterbrurners franked that form and carved his own moment and earned her connections good Queensland money in the QTIS Jewel for two-year-olds at Gold Coast.
Kelly Schweida has an eye for a smart young horse and his purchase of smart sprinter Graff for $70,000 at the 2024 Inglis Classic Sale has now netted connections more than six times that amount in prizemoney in five starts.
Racing at least four-wide for the trip from barrier 15 in the $500,000 event over 1200-metres, jockey Cejay Graham let Grafterburners ($3.80 favourite) stride better than midfield and despite being bumped early in the straight, the colt was able to power away to win by a length margin over the Kevin Kemp-trained Pink Vixen ($8) with Betterlucknexttime ($11) in third.
"It was his first run in five weeks and he is pretty casual," Schweida said.
"I don't think he ever got in (in the run) and he needed a little push there around the corner, but we knew he'd be strong last and all the form around him has been super."
Grafterburners' last start was in the Inglis Millennium (1100m) at Randwick on February 8 and the first two past the post in that race – Rivellino and Within The Law – are at around $10 for next Saturday's Group 1 Golden Slipper (1200m) at Rosehill.
"I think he toyed with them because once he got there he still had a bit of a run around and a look around," Graham said.
"This is the best two-year-old I've ridden by far and I have to be thankful to Kelly for sticking with me today. It is a big opportunity."