Cover image courtesy of Magic Millions
Grafterburners the one to catch in the Sunlight
Grafterburners (Graff) will be chasing a fourth consecutive victory on Saturday when he lines up in the $3 million Sunlight 3YO Plate, and the Kelly Schweida-trained colt shapes as the horse they all have to beat.
While the drop back to 1100 metres isn’t ideal given his outstanding record at 1200 metres, Schweida is confident the slight freshen-up has him primed to perform.
“He had a week out in the paddock after his last win and he’s come back fresh as a daisy,” Schweida told racenet.com.
“He (Grafterburners) had a week out in the paddock after his last win and he’s come back fresh as a daisy.” - Kelly Schweida
“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 was snapped up by the slot of Sydney’s powerhouse training partnership of Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, underlining the regard in which the colt is held from outsiders looking in.
Grafterburners | Image courtesy of Trackside Photography
Schweida has long rated Grafterburners highly, and while his winter carnival results don’t jump off the page, they were far from disappointing. The colt finished a credible sixth in both the G2 Sires’ Produce Stakes and the G1 JJ Atkins Plate, and also placed in the G2 Spirit Of Boom Classic.
Saturday’s run in the Magic Millions Sunlight will help shape the colt’s immediate 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.
Kelly Schweida | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“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 knows what it takes to win the Inglis Sprint, having taken out last year’s edition at Flemington with El Morzillo (Star Witness).
While Grafterburners deserves favouritism, he won’t have it all his own way in the race famously won last year by boom colt Private Harry (Harry Angel {Ire}).
The unbeaten Ice Kool (Zoustar) has made a faultless start to his career, Savvy Hallie (Hellbent) brings Group 2-winning form, the well-bred Sylph (I Am Invincible) has upside, and North England (Farnan) could be very hard to beat if he produces his best.
Yellow Brick has the class edge as he chases the cash
With lucrative opportunities now spread throughout the racing calendar, trainer Tony Sears has mapped out an ambitious Gold Coast double for the consistent and classy Yellow Brick (The Mission), targeting two races over the next two Saturdays worth a combined $3.5 million.
Yellow Brick looks a leading contender in Saturday’s $1.5 million Magic Millions QTIS Open, despite conceding seven kilograms to his nearest rival. All things going well, he is set to back up next weekend in the $2 million Magic Millions Cup over 1400 metres.
“We will probably run two weeks in a row because these are big money races, right on our doorstep,” Sears told racenet.com.
Yellow Brick | Image courtesy of Trackside Photography
“We have given him three trials this time in, and we were always going to run in the QTIS race. You would think he would be very hard to beat on Saturday, even though he’s got a bit of weight.
“He has probably got a class edge on some of his rivals.
“As long as he comes through this alright, we will definitely run in the next one.”
“He (Yellow Brick) has probably got a class edge on some of his rivals.” - Tony Sears
While Yellow Brick’s Sydney spring campaign reads modestly on paper - four unplaced runs, Sears believes the performances were far better than the results suggest.
“I think the whole lot of his runs in Sydney, he went enormous. He was certainly in a couple of races that just weren’t run to suit.
“But when you are racing against those sort of horses and only getting beaten a few lengths, you’ve got to be happy.
Tony Sears | Image courtesy of Racing Queensland
“His last run was terrific down in Sydney and he certainly wasn’t running against bad horses.”
Despite holding a clear class edge, Yellow Brick still faces a challenge under the weight scale. The Tony Gollan-trained duo Boomtown Boss (Spirit Of Boom) and Bossed Up (Better Than Ready) loom as dangers, while the in-form Ready To Schipp (Better Than Ready) and Hatchet (Worthy Cause) could be the blowout chances.
Itchintogo tackles the debutants in the Gold Nugget
It’s a rare sight to see a proven winner take on a field of first starters in a $150,000 event, even if a juvenile race, but that’s exactly the scenario facing Itchintogo (Sun City) in Saturday’s Gold Nugget. On exposed form alone, the gelding looks very hard to beat while carrying just 2kg above the minimum.
Trainer Tony Gollan has his eye firmly on Saturday’s prize, but he’s also clear that the bigger picture is next weekend’s $3 million R. Listed Gold Coast Magic Millions 2YO Classic, where he wants Itchintogo to be peaking and at his ultimate best.
“I want to use this to try to take the edge off him a bit for the following week,” Gollan told racenet.com.
Itchintogo | Image courtesy of Trackside Photography
“He was a bit keen in his last win at the 1110 metres at Doomben and I jumped him out the other day and he was a bit keen in the jumpout again.
“He wasn’t an expensive horse but he is a real little racehorse, he is just a little bit too racy at times. To get the 1200m strongly on Magic Millions day, he has just got to execute things a bit better.”
If Itchintogo can iron out those racing manners, Gollan believes he can be a serious player on Magic Millions day - a race the trainer won previously with Skirt The Law (Better Than Ready).
Tony Gollan | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“He is good odds at the moment because he hasn’t raced for a while, but that was my plan,” Gollan said.
“The Zip Lock form looks good form and my horse was a bit underdone when those two tangled.
“He (Itchintogo) is good odds at the moment because he hasn’t raced for a while, but that was my plan.” - Tony Gollan
“If my horse can come out and win on Saturday, there’s no reason he wouldn’t get a good chance in the Magic Millions and (be) a single figure hope in betting markets.”
Among the unraced brigade, the Toby Edmonds-trained Baciami (Castelvecchio) has trialled impressively at the Gold Coast, while the Stuart Kendrick-trained Wootton Bassett (GB) colt Wootton You Know demands respect on pedigree alone.
Aztec Ruler back for another crack at the Standish
The West Australian-based Aztec Ruler (Universal Ruler) heads back to Flemington on Saturday with unfinished business, lining up in the G3 Standish Handicap after falling just short in the race 12 months ago.
The gelding was beaten only by It’sourtime (Time For War) last year, and returns in arguably stronger form, even if trainer Stefan Vahala concedes the opposition may be deeper this time around.
“He’s going better than last year, but I think unfortunately the field’s a bit stronger than last year,” he told racingandsports.com.au.
Aztec Ruler | Image courtesy of Western Racepix
“My bloke’s definitely going better than ever, though, so we’re looking forward to it.”
Weight relief could play a key role in his chances. Aztec Ruler carried 59kg when finishing second in last year’s Standish, but drops to 57.5kg on Saturday, bringing him in line with the last start Listed winner Christmas Stakes winner Hedged (Capitalist).
“My bloke’s (Aztec Ruler) definitely going better than ever, though, so we’re looking forward to it.” - Stefan Vahala
While his recent form figures may appear similar to last season, Vahala believes the substance behind those runs tells a different story. Aztec Ruler again finished midfield in the G3 Gold Rush over 1400 metres at his final lead-up, but it was the way he performed - rather than the finishing position - that encouraged another tilt at the Standish.
“His last run, he was ridden against his pattern and he got tired the last 150, but he put himself in the race and was really strong until that 150, whereas in previous preps if he’d have been ridden like that, he would have really dropped out,” Vahala said.
“His run before that, running second to probably West Australia's best horse in Cosmic Crusader, that was a big run as well. So without winning, he’s been very good.”
Stefan Vahala | Image courtesy of Racing WA
Barrier six in a field of 12 gives Aztec Ruler options, and Vahala is confident the gelding is well equipped to handle the demands of racing down the Flemington straight after last year’s experience.
“I think he enjoys the straight, it really suits him,” he said.
“He can really get into a rhythm and then let down that last 300, which is sort of his racing pattern.
“He (Aztec Ruler) can really get into a rhythm and then let down that last 300, which is sort of his racing pattern.” - Stefan Vahala
“He travelled in Monday night, he settled in beautifully, and I think that extra 12 months and that previous travel has definitely helped him.”
With fitness, familiarity and favourable weight conditions on his side, Aztec Ruler shapes as a genuine contender once again, though he’ll need to be at his best to hold out the likes of Maharba (Pride Of Dubai), the classy Aviatress (Smart Missile), and Hedged in what looms as a high-quality sprint up the famous straight.
