Star Witness Colt to Run in The Everest

Brilliant three year-old Star Witness colt Graff has been selected by Max Whitby and Neil Werrett to fill their slot for the $13million the Everest at Randwick on October 13.

Prepared by Kris Lees Star, Graff has only stepped out five times winning his first three starts before being far from disgraced when second in the Group II ATC Run To The Rose behind Lean Mean Machine and was then a brave third to The Autumn sun in the ATC Golden Rose over 1400 metres.

Lees believes the drop back to 1200 metres will be ideal for Graff.

“There was some talk pre Golden Rose that he was one of the horses in contention for an Everest slot, and we had someone ring, so I’ve always had that in mind with my training of him,” Lees told Racenet.

“Straight after the Golden Rose we started thinking that more than likely he gets an Everest slot so we gave him a few easy days out at our farm on the water walker.

“He will freshen up extremely well and the drop back to 1200m is absolutely ideal for him.

“He’s got 53kg in The Everest and he’s a big strong colt.

“Go and look at his sectionals on every day he has raced, he has been amongst the top sectionals on every day.

“So I think that is a very good indicator that he will give The Everest a big shake.”

The budding star sprinter is owned by Alan Bell who has raced numerous outstanding gallopers, not the least of which being champion sprinter Schillaci and he snapped up the impressive Graff for $200,000 at the 2017 Magic Millions Yearling Sale from the draft of Widden Stud.

Already the winner of $352,000 in prizemoney Graff is now in line for a possible $6m payday if he can beat the older sprinters to claim The Everest first prize.