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Stradbroke Handicap plans for Graff go on the line at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.
And trainer Kris Lees has recalled Kerrin McEvoy to hopefully get the best out of the four-year-old stallion in the Listed Luskin Stakes (1300m) on the second day of the annual Scone Cup carnival.
The thrice Melbourne Cup winning jockey has ridden Graff only once previously, and won the Clarendon 2YO Stakes (1300m) on him at Hawkesbury's Saturday stand-alone meeting in April, 2018.
That was only Graff 's second start – he had won on debut at Rosehill over 1100m earlier that month – and made it three in a row when landing the Group 3 San Domenico Stakes over the same Rosehill course in August that year as an early three-year-old.
He hasn't managed to add to his record in 11 subsequent appearances, but the majority have been in black type company, and he has run some excellent races.
Graff resumed in the Listed Hawkesbury Rush (1100m) at Rosehill on April 25 and finished fourth to stablemate Tactical Advantage, beaten a mere half-length.
He became stirred up prior to the race, and his trainer has decided to put ear muffs back on him to hopefully settle him until they are removed before the start is effected.
"Graff has trained on well since his first-up run, and I'll be disappointed if he doesn't perform really well on Saturday," Lees said this afternoon.
"The plan is to go to the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap in Brisbane next, so he certainly needs to bring his best form."
Eagle Farm's Group 1 Stradbroke (1400m) on June 6 was chopped from $1.5m to $350,000 when Brisbane's winter carnival was revised following the COVID-19 crisis and, though Graff is amongst a number of Lees' nominations, the trainer chose not to enter his triple Group 1 winner Le Romain and Group 3 Newcastle Newmarket winner Special Reward.
McEvoy also was booked for Miss Fabulass in the Group 3 Dark Jewel Classic (1400m), but Lees indicated he was unlikely to start the mare because of her wide draw.
"There are options for her next week in both Sydney and Brisbane," he said.
"If we don't run Miss Fabulass, Kerrin will ride Asharani (currently first emergency) if she secures a start."
Lees is keen on the chances of likely Brisbane visitor Delectation Girl (Hugh Bowman) in the Dark Jewel. The much-travelled mare also will wear ear muffs pre-race.
"Delectation Girl is going really well," Lees said. "I feel she has a very strong chance."
Zeftabrook (Bowman) in the Listed Woodlands Stakes (1100m), Snowzone (Brenton Avdulla) in the Benchmark 78 Handicap (1100m) and Iconic Star (Jason Collett) in the Listed Denise's Joy Stakes (1100m) are the stable's other Rosehill runners.
"Zeftabrook had a little freshen after winning the Wellington Boot, and is in good order," Lees said.
"It's a jump in grade, but I'm thinking she is up to it.
"Snowzone raced well in Brisbane over the summer and is resuming after one trial last month. Rain would help his chances.
"Iconic Star is a fast filly, and we are trying to get some black type with her."
. Lees has a number of runners at Saturday's major Queensland meeting at the Gold Coast.
He has withdrawn Saunter Boy and Mongolian Wolf from the Sunshine Coast tomorrow night (Mawaany Machine will start there) to contest the Open Handicap (2200m), and Always A Show (Andrew Mallyon) also misses the Sunshine Coast to run in Saturday's Ken Russell Memorial Classic (1200m).
