Tony Gollan is likely to attack the Group 1 Doomben 10,000 with new stable acquisition Graff

Enigmatic sprinter Graff will try to win an elusive Group 1 during the Queensland winter carnival with his third trainer Tony Gollan indicating a first-up tilt at the Doomben 10,000 could be on the cards.

Graff has previously been with Kris Lees and then Danny O’Brien and during his career has had six starts at Group 1 level with one placing, when finishing third in the 2018 Golden Rose.

There is no doubting his talent – he ran fifth in Redzel’s second The Everest win – but he has never quite been able to bridge the gap between his undoubted potential and his performance.

Gollan knows the five-year-old is a “bit of a thinker” but thinks a fresh-up assault on the Doomben 10,000 on May 15 could be his mission.

Group 1 star Nature Strip could also potentially be Doomben 10,000 bound, with part-owner Rod Lyons saying he has booked accommodation in Brisbane that week.

Graff will be given a chance to win a Group 1 in winter after having his stud future secured earlier this year when the Group 2 winner was part-purchased by Aquis with an agreement he will stand in Queensland at the conclusion of his racing career.

Gollan was happy with Graff’s trial at Doomben on Tuesday – finishing second behind stablemate Garibaldi over 840m.

“It was only a half mile trial but he was really good, we didn’t ask him for a massive effort but I liked what I saw through the line,” Gollan said.

“He seemed to have a bit of intent about what he was doing.

“I didn’t have any gear on him at all and I plan to give him another jumpout in a couple of weeks.

“My mindset at the moment is probably to be Doomben 10,000 bound with him.

“The plan is to try and win a Group 1 with him.”

Graff has won three from six first-up including winning the Group 2 Caulfield Sprint in explosive fashion last October when having his first run for O’Brien.

Tony Gollan (right). Pic: Getty Images.Source:Getty Images

Meanwhile, Gollan says another new stable acquisition Baller is a work in progress.

Gollan has been satisfied with the work of the former Chris Waller sprinter, who was with Anthony Cummings before that.

“I haven’t had him for all that long, he had a freshen and then we trialled him today,” Gollan said, after watching Baller win a 1000m Doomben trial.

“His action can improve a bit, I’m nowhere near the bottom of him.

“I think I will need to trial him again before I decide what to do with him.”

Originally published asGraff is Queensland Group 1 bound for new stable

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