GRAFTERBURNERS RUBBER-STAMPS HIS CLASS WITH AN EMPHATIC WIN IN THE $3 MILLION SUNLIGHT PLATE
By Graham Potter | Saturday, January 10, 2026
There can be no doubting that trainer Kelly Schweida has a emerging star on his hands after the already much vaunted Grafterburners took out the $3 million Magic Millions Sunlight Three-Year-Old Plate contested over 1110m at the Gold Coast.
Brought into the race via the Gai Waterhouse/Adrian Bott Racing slot-holders in a deal orchestrated by Bruce Slade, the Sunlight was Grafterburners fourth successive win after previously saluting in a QTIS Three-Year-Old Handicap on November 8, in the Magic Millions Pierata Plate a month later on December 6 … and in the Listed Gold Edition on December 20 … which was not only a very fruitful run of results but a set of wins which also translated to a perfect buildup the his big, $3 million race assignment.
There were a couple of subtle differences going into The Sunlight. Those previous three wins were all over 1200m, so there was a step down in distance in The Sunlight to 1110m … and James McDonald was handed the reins this time around, replacing Cejay Graham who had ridden Grafterburners in his last two starts.
Grafterburners, who was always top of the betting boards (he would start at ($2.25), jumped well enough from a favourable draw, held fourth place along the inside, racing a little less than three lengths off the lead in the sweep to the home turn … and then improved to third place at the top of the home straight, seemingly full of running but also in danger of being locked into that inside run without having a clear way out behind the leaders.
With 250m left to go, it was decision time McDonald … and it was a crucial one at that.
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