Schweida knocks back $20m Everest slot and wins $2m Sydney Stakes

Kelly Schweida has revealed he turned down the offer of an Everest slot for Grafterburners to concentrate on its $2 million consolation, a call that has proven a masterstroke with the entire claiming a thrilling Sydney Stakes victory at Randwick.

The Queensland trainer felt his charge would be competing for a minor prize against the likes of Hong Kong champion Ka Ying Rising and bonny mare Tempted in the $20 million feature and was better placed on the undercard.

“We got offered a slot, to be honest, but we thought… the good horse (Ka Ying Rising) would win it, Tempted had beaten us fair and square a couple of times, so we elected to go this way with the prizemoney, and we didn’t have to share it with anyone,” Schweida said.

Grafterburners ($6.50) was dominant against a strong Sydney Stakes (1200m) field, surging to the front for Nash Rawiller in the straight and running out a 1-1/2 length winner over Marhoona ($5.50 fav) with Overpass ($7) another half-neck away third.

Having lost the chance at a Group 1 win during the autumn when he was scratched at the barriers prior to The Galaxy (1100m), Schweida is now keen to take Grafterburners to Melbourne for next month’s Champions Sprint (1200m) at Flemington.

“Really good effort, and if he pulls up all right, I wouldn’t mind having a crack at that race in Melbourne in a few weeks,” Schweida said.

“He needs a Group One, being a colt. That race last year was The Galaxy and he had a little hissy-fit (when scratched at the barriers). That was his Group One that we thought got away from us.

“But he showed today what he’s capable of doing, and they were pretty good horses there today and he was strong through the line.”

Rawiller said Grafterburners had the race in his keeping a long way out and did it easily.

“What a beautiful horse,” Rawiller said.

“He got to show what he is made of. We were curled up there and let go with one run. He was awesome, really.”