Golden Rose favourite Graff might not have been aimed at the $1 million stallion-making group 1 if he had not been scratched at the barriers at Doomben in May.
Owner Alan Bell and trainer Kris Lees were left to bemoan bad luck after the Star Witness colt played up in the gates in the BRC Sires' Produce Stakes. But a plan was hatched that day that could come to fruition at Rosehill on Saturday.
Ready to shine: Graff wins the San Domenico Stakes.
“It wasn’t a good day,” Lees said. “He had the blinkers on and was a bit fresh and went off. We were very confident that he would run a great race and head to the [group 1] JJ Atkins.
“If he did get further along in the Brisbane carnival we might not be here. The longer he went on in Brisbane would have affected where we would be now.”
Bell remembers the conversion that night.
“We sat down and thought, 'what do we do now?' We mapped out the San Domenico [Stakes], Run To The Rose and then Golden Rose,” Bell said.
“That plan could not have gone better, the market tells you that.
“I know he was beaten in the Run To The Rose, but it was barrier- and track-related, rather than performance.”
Graff had started the spring unbeaten with wins at Rosehill and in the Clarendon Stakes at Hawkesbury, yet he was $5.50, albeit well supported, when he streeted the San Domenico field, and has been at the top of Golden Rose betting since.
"The blinkers were on him in Brisbane and might be the reason we are here, but they have certainly helped focus him," Lees said. "The way he attacked the straight in the San Domenico was very good and I think we will see that again on the good track on Saturday."
Graff had a wide run in the Run To The Rose and Lean Mean Machine beat him in the final few strides, but it hasn't dulled the confidence of jockey Jason Collett.
“The big difference between Saturday and last start is the barrier. The soft draw means he will not have to do the work he did last time,” Collett said. “He wasn’t happy in the ground and getting back to a firm surface is going to make the world of difference.
“He is the type of horse that will just relax in the race and as we saw first-up he can be very dynamic.
“He didn’t feel comfortable for most of the race last start, but the reports from Kris have been good since.”
Graff was a $200,000 Magic Millions purchase by Bell, who has the knack of finding the better Star Witness offspring. He already has seen Star Turn, also a San Domenico winner, head to Vinery Stud after a career littered with group 1 placings.
“Star Witness has been a stallion that has drawn a lot of attention in the sales ring. He is very good value and that is what we got with Graff,” Bell said. “He has developed into a big, strong colt and to get to a Golden Rose is what you have dreams about.
"I think the race sets up for him very well on Saturday with good pace and we are very positive about his chances."
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