Grafterburners blasts through in the 2026 Magic Millions Sunlight

An unexpected phone call changed the course of Grafterburners’ preparation and delivered a major result for Kelly Schweida with victory in the second running of the Magic Millions Sunlight 3yo Plate.

For the $3 million, 1100-metre slot owned by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, bloodstock agent Bruce Slade targeted Grafterburners ($2.25F), completing a deal to secure the emerging star.

“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 negotiate traffic in the home straight but showed determination to punch through along the rail under James McDonald, fresh off a stint riding in Hong Kong.

McDonald praised the son of Graff, who has now won six of his 12 starts and looks set for a lucrative campaign.

“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.”

The colt defeated Nashville Jack ($71) by 1½ lengths, with Sylph ($10) finishing half a length away in third.

Earlier on the card, Schweida-trained Miss Joelene ($2.70F) added further success by winning the $500,000 Magic Millions The Wave (1800m).

Miss Joelene had previously won The Wave in 2025 when the race was shifted to the Sunshine Coast following the track poisoning incident.

Schweida said the mare would back up into 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.

Punters were well engaged through major betting platforms for the Magic Millions Sunlight, one of the headline races on the Gold Coast calendar.

Jockey Ceejay Graham said Schweida’s confidence in keeping her aboard Miss Joelene meant plenty.

“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 introduced Magic Millions Gold Raceday attracted around 9,000 people to the twilight meeting, with more than $7 million in prize money on offer.

The post Grafterburners blasts through in Magic Millions Sunlight first appeared on Just Horse Racing.