An unexpected approach led to a change in direction and a major payoff for Kelly Schweida and the connections of Grafterburners, who claimed victory in the second running of the Magic Millions Sunlight 3yo Plate.
With the $3 million, 1100-metre feature run under the slot held by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, bloodstock agent Bruce Slade moved decisively to secure Grafterburners ($2.25F) as the runner of choice.
“All credit to Bruce,” Schweida said.
“We were going to go to a different option before we got the slot. We were going to go to the Vo Rogue but this will do.”
Grafterburners had to overcome traffic issues in the straight but produced a sharp run along the rail under James McDonald, who had only recently returned from riding commitments in Hong Kong.
McDonald labelled the son of Graff ‘outstanding’, with Grafterburners now boasting six wins from 12 starts and a lucrative future ahead.
“He’s eligible for the million-dollar race that El Morzillo won down the Flemington straight but he’s also eligible for a half-million dollar Jewel here for QTIS horses,” Schweida said.
“That is hard to knock back.”
Grafterburners defeated the Brad Widdup-trained Nashville Jack ($71) by 1½ lengths, with Sylph ($10) finishing a further half-length away in third.
Earlier on the program, Schweida also trained Miss Joelene ($2.70F) to victory in the $500,000 Magic Millions The Wave (1800m), completing a unique double for the stable.
Miss Joelene had previously won The Wave in 2025 when the race was relocated to the Sunshine Coast following the track poisoning incident.
Schweida confirmed the mare would back up in next Saturday’s Magic Millions Subzero (2200m).
“She’s got a good back-up record. She ran third in that race last year after The Wave and she won after Ipswich Cup Day so she’ll back up in the 2200,” Schweida said.
Markets were active with leading Australian betting sites for the Magic Millions Sunlight, with punters keen to assess the emerging three-year-old stars.
Jockey Ceejay Graham was appreciative of Schweida’s decision to keep her aboard Miss Joelene.
“I’m so thankful to Kelly for sticking with me. It would have been very tempting to put a big name on. It really means a lot to me to get an opportunity like this and she’s just a star.”
The newly branded Magic Millions Gold Raceday drew a crowd of around 9,000 to the twilight meeting, where more than $7 million in prize money was on offer.
The post Grafterburners blasts through in Magic Millions Sunlight first appeared on Just Horse Racing.