Saturday summary: Grafterburners dominates rivals in dazzling Sunlight showdown

Cover image courtesy of Magic Millions

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Grafterburners dominates Magic Millions Sunlight with fourth consecutive win

Grafterburners (Graff) extended his remarkable run to four straight victories with a commanding performance in the $3 million Magic Millions Sunlight at the Gold Coast on Saturday, confirming his status as one of the country’s standout 3-year-old sprinters.

Tracking the strong early pace set by Swordplay (Shalaa {Ire}), Grafterburners encountered a few tense moments entering the straight as James McDonald looked for a clear run and got close to heels. Once he found daylight ducking back to the fence, the Graff colt exploded, bursting away to score by a length and a half over Nashville Jack (Farnan), with the highly credentialled maiden Sylph (I Am Invincible) a further half-length back in third. The victory marked his sixth career win from 12 starts, with career earnings now topping $2 million.

“I’m quite proud of him,” trainer Kelly Schweida said. “He’s freshened up and matured nicely. Barrier two was a big bonus and he rode it really well. He’s really thriving at the moment. It’s been a good night, so I’ll enjoy a stubby!

“Bruce Slade did the deal for Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott – we were going to go a different option before the slot, we were going to go to the Vo Rogue, but this will do.”

The Sunlight has quickly established itself as a springboard for future stars, with Private Harry (Harry Angel {Ire}) winning the inaugural running before going on to Group 1 glory, winning The Galaxy at his next start.

Schweida confirmed his colt has a number of lucrative options ahead.

“He is eligible for a $1 million race down the Flemington straight that El Morzillo won, but he’s also eligible for a $500,000 QTIS Jewel here, so that’s hard to knock back.”

Sales: Grafterburners was purchased for $70,000 from the draft of Canning Downs Stud at the 2022 Inglis Classic Sale.

Pedigree: Grafterburners is by Graff out of Coralina (Dylan Thomas {Ire}). He is one of five winners and the lone stakes winner from six runners out of Coralina, a half-sister to G1 Golden Slipper Stakes winner Overreach and Group 2 winner Standout.

Yellow Brick shows trademark grit in Magic Millions QTIS Open win

Yellow Brick (The Mission) added another chapter to his extraordinary career at the Gold Coast on Saturday night, digging deep to land the $1.5 million Magic Millions QTIS Open under a hefty 61kg.

Ridden by James McDonald, the Tony and Maddy Sears-trained gelding settled into a perfect one-out, one-back position from barrier seven before being eased into the clear with plenty of time to build momentum. He dug deep late to score by one and a quarter lengths to defeat Gollan stablemates Bossed Up (Better Than Ready) and John Rambo (Adelaide {Ire]) who had a 9kg weight advantage, taking his earnings beyond $3.4 million.

“This horse is my everything,” an emotional Maddy Sears said. “I’ve had a pretty rough few months after breaking my leg and normally I ride all his work, so it’s been tricky. Dad leaves me to my own devices with him and to see him do that tonight is really special.

“He’ll back up next week in what will probably be a better race for him over a bit further and down in the weights.

"He'll back up in the Magic Millions Gold Cup next week then he'll have two weeks off before he heads to Sydney for the Doncaster."

Now a nine-time winner with a further nine placings, including a Group 1 second in the 2025 G1 Stradbroke Handicap behind Warmachine (NZ) (Harry Angel {Ire}), Yellow Brick continues to defy the odds and prove his toughness at the top level.

Sales: Yellow Brick was purchased for just $20,000 by Sears Racing in partnership with bloodstock agent Paul Moroney from the Waylon J Stud draft at the 2021 Gold Coast National Yearling Sale, a bargain buy that has since returned his connections more than $3.5 million.

Pedigree: Yellow Brick is out of Magical Mist (High Chaparral {Ire}), herself a prolific producer and the dam of three Group winners including Ballistic Boy (Smart Missile) and Splendiferous (Pride of Dubai). Magical Mist was purchased by Yulong for $775,000 at the 2023 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale and has since produced a yearling filly by Alabama Express before returning to Pierata last spring.

Disneck storms to Standish victory

After a quiet return to racing last spring, the Bjorn Baker-trained Disneck (Trapeze Artist) returned to Flemington on Saturday to deliver a commanding performance in the G3 Standish Handicap, putting himself firmly in contention for the 2026 G1 Newmarket Handicap.

The Trapeze Artist gelding had shown early promise as a pre-Christmas 2-year-old winner at Rosehill, but stakes success had eluded him until this Saturday.

Settled towards the back of the field by Daniel Stackhouse, Disneck his signature late surge, charging down the Flemington straight to score by one and three quarter lengths over Extratwo (Toronado {Ire})and Contemporary (Exceed And Excel).

“The plan was to get back obviously and follow Mark Zahara on Aviatress,” Stackhouse said. “He's really effective when he’s ridden cold like that. He’s got a great turn of foot and you can see that he got there almost too early. He pricked his ears, but he was just going so well and put himself into the race quickly. It was a nice win and a good start to his preparation.”

Stackhouse added that Disneck’s fresh condition and firm footing suited him perfectly.

“I wasn’t too concerned about his first-up trial - he’s really good when he’s fresh. He’s ran really well up the straight and back on top of the ground,” he said, noting the gelding could carry a light weight in the Newmarket Handicap.

Baker has proven more than adept at preparing his horses for Melbourne’s premier sprints, with Saturday’s win marking his sixth feature triumph at Flemington.

Sales: Disneck was purchased for $200,000 at the 2021 Inglis Classic Sale by Bjorn Baker Racing and Clarke Bloodstock (FBAA), from the draft of Gooree Park. His dam Lindisfarne (USA) (City Zip {USA}), who produced a filly by So You Think (NZ) last spring, was later on-sold for just $7000 through Inglis Digital in May 2021.

Pedigree: Disneck was bred by Phoenix Thoroughbreds and is by Trapeze Artist out of Lindisfarne, making him the ninth stakes-winner for his sire and the best of two winners from Lindisfarne, a half-sister to Group 1-placed Flora Dora (First Dude {USA}).

Win number 10 Acromantula scores in Miss Andretta

Eight-year-old Acromantula (Written Tycoon) delivered his 10th career victory in his fifth season of racing on Saturday, securing a second Listed win in the Listed Miss Andretti Stakes at Ascot. Trained by Daniel and Ben Pearce, the gelding is the veteran of 44 starts, placing or winning in nearly half of them, and he turned on the heat in the 1100-metre black-type sprint.

Exploding out of the gates, the gelding took an authoritative lead under Lucy Fiore and gave his opponents no quarter - extending the margin to nearly seven lengths at one stage before rounding for home. With no need to pump the gas, Fiore let the gelding roll home to a comfortable half-length victory over a gaining Cut The Talk (Oratorio).

"It was very pleasing (to watch), it's been a while since we have seen the old Acromantula," said stable foreman Taylor Fitzgerald. "We are happy to see him today.

"I think he's getting quieter as he's gotten older - I love him to bits. He was huge last start, I was just happy to see him jump today, which he hasn't done in recent starts."

Sales: Acromantula was retained to race by breeder Mr A Olive.

Pedigree: The gelding is one of seven winners borne from triple Listed winner For Your Eyes Only (Bletchley Park {Ire}), a mare who was also multiple Group-performed in a stellar 27-start career that netted 10 wins. Her Splintex colt will be offered at the Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale as Lot 350 in Gold Front Thoroughbreds’ draft, and she delivered a colt by Ingratiating this spring before visiting Awesome Rock.

Chica Mojito fulfils potential with record-breaking Lakes victory

After a string of near-misses in Australia, Chica Mojito (Zacinto) finally delivered on her promise at Wyong on Saturday, producing a career-best performance to claim the $500,000 The Lakes and set a new track record.

The 5-year-old Zacinto mare had shown her talent over stakes races including the G3 Belle of the Turf and Listed Tattersalls Mile, but a breakthrough win had remained elusive. Ridden by Andrew Adkins, she settled in seventh before sweeping around the outside at the home turn, displaying a good turn of foot to draw clear and win by two lengths in 1:34.55s – the fastest 1600 metres ever recorded at Wyong.

Her Australian campaign prior to Wyong included 16 starts for six seconds, four thirds, three fourths and a fifth.

"She's been crying out to break through for a win like that and she really deserved that today," said Chris Waller’s representative Darren Beadman. "Andrew got her into a great spot, and off a good fast speed she was able to present well wide and finish off like she did."

Part-owner Brad Spicer added, "She’s always had ability. but hadn’t caught a break. Today she showed what she’s capable of. Chris has done a top job, and it’s a great reward for everyone involved."

Sales: Chica Mojito is owned in part by Brad Spicer and a consortium of partners, with a 50% share purchased after her New Zealand debut. She was transferred to Chris Waller’s stable following her initial New Zealand career, in which she had won once at Cambridge and placed in the G3 Eulogy Stakes.

Pedigree: Chica Mojito is out of multiple winning mare Cantina (Cecconi) and is from a solid New Zealand family which includes Group3 winner Accardo (Elnadim {USA}) . She was bred by Melway Farm’s Gareth Downey and Mel Gamble, who remain part-owners.