Owner Alan Bell puts unbeaten Graff to the test in San Domenico Stakes

[Nergal]

 

GRAFF puts his unbeaten record on the line in a race that has a proven history of producing top-class sprinters at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.

The promising Graff resumes in another quality renewal of the Group 3 $150,000 San Domenico Stakes (1100m).

Owner Alan Bell, who purchased Graff for $200,000 at the Magic Millions Yearling Sales last year, is under no illusions about his colt’s task to improve his race record to three wins from as many starts.

“It is phenomenal how difficult this race is to win,’’ Bell said of the San Domenico Stakes.

“We’ve got a horse in Graff resuming and heading to some big races in the spring. This is always the race where you have to front up.’’

The honour roll of San Domenico Stakes winners underlines Bell’s view.

Since 1995, no fewer than 12 San Domenico Stakes winners trained on to win at Group 1 level — Our Maizcay (1995), General Nediym (1997), Testa Rossa (1999), Mistegic (2001), Regimental Gal (2003), Charge Forward (2004), Gold Edition (2006), Duporth (2008), Shellscrape (2009), Foxwedge (2011), Snitzerland (2012) and Japonisme (2015).

Bell, a renowned judge of a thoroughbred, has raced a previous San Domenico winner, the outstanding Star Turn who won with authority in 2016.

“I think this was the day when all the studs took notice of Star Turn,’’ Bell said. “He had been a terrific two-year-old but raced without luck. He was the colt with the right profile that was taking that next step as a three-year-old.’’

Star Turn came out of his San Domenico Stakes win to finish second behind Astern in the Run To The Rose before beating older horses in the Group 2 Schillaci Stakes.

He then finished his career with four successive Group 1 placings in the Coolmore Stud Stakes, Lightning Stakes, Newmarket Handicap and William Reid Stakes.

Although Star Turn, who is now standing at Vinery Stud, wasn’t able to crack it for a Group 1 win, his name rests comfortably alongside other San Domenico Stakes winners as he goes about forging.

Graff is by leading stallion Star Witness, the same sire as Star Turn, and he showed natural ability winning his only two starts during his juvenile season including his impressive effort in the Clarendon Stakes at the Hawkesbury stand-alone meeting back in April.

Although Graff’s winning margin was only slender that day, it was an outstanding effort to overcome a moderate early tempo and sprint home his final 600m in close to 33s, a brilliant sectional split.

Trainer Kris Lees then took Graff to Brisbane for the winter carnival but a barrier mishap at Doomben meant the colt didn’t race.

A rival runner was playing up in an adjacent stall and Graff, hearing the gates crashing, made a lunge at the barrier and suffered a minor abrasion to a knee.

“The vets made the right call to scratch the colt so once we missed that race, we decided to turn him out,’’ Bell said.

In San Domenico Stakes betting, Graff is at $7 with TAB Fixed Odds behind Performer ($3.80) favourite), Plague Stone ($4.20) and Neutrality ($4.60).

Graff goes to the San Domenico off one barrier trial where he finished alongside Jonker at Gosford over 800m earlier this month.

“I thought Graff did well to finish so close as he raced a bit wide in that trial,’’ Bell said.

“Jonker is a pretty quick horse over a short course and we were happy with the way Graff steamed home. He is a big, powerful colt and will take improvement from that trial.

“The San Domenico Stakes is a good test for him but we are hoping this colt can make the right progression from this race into the spring.’’