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Kris Lees has “mixed up” Graff’s routine in a bid to inspire the stallion to show his “real” form in Saturday’s Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap at Eagle Farm.
The Star Witness four-year-old will have had three different training venues in as many weeks by the time he goes to the post for the 1400m feature.
"He was here at home at Broadmeadow, and then I sent him to Queensland early and he spent last week at the Aquis Training Centre at Canungra, and is now at our Gold Coast base," Lees said this afternoon.
"Hopefully, the change of venues will stimulate him to produce his best on Saturday."
Graff , now raced by a syndicate which includes Australian Bloodstock and Aquis Farm, won his first three starts for previous owner Alan Bell, but hasn't been successful in 12 outings since winning the Group 3 San Domenico Stakes (1100m) for three-year-olds at Rosehill Gardens in August, 2018.
After winning the San Domenico, he was placed in both the Group 2 Run To The Rose (1200m) and Group 1 Golden Rose (1400m) – also against his own age - at Rosehill the following month.
He has since performed well in feature open sprints such as the 2018 The Everest (1200m) at Royal Randwick and last year's Group 1 Black Caviar Lightning (1000m) and Group 1 Newmarket Handicap (1200m) at Flemington.
Graff has raced twice this preparation for his new owners, finishing just behind the placegetters in Listed events at Rosehill Gardens; the Hawkesbury Rush (1100m) on April 25 and Scone's Luskin Star Stakes (1300m) on May 16.
Graff (15th in order of entry) and English import Chief Ironside (14th), a Group 2 winner at Moonee Valley last spring, are Lees' definite runners in Brisbane's major sprint, for which the field will be declared at 9am tomorrow.
He also is accepting with Delectation Girl, who is currently 26th in order of entry.
Eighteen horses can start in the Stradbroke, and Brisbane Racing Club has provision to declare five emergencies if required.
"If Delectation Girl doesn't get a start, she can still go to Brisbane for either the Group 2 Dane Ripper Stakes (1400m) against her own sex or Group 3 Eagle Farm Mile there on Saturday week," Lees said.
He is yet to finalise riders for his Stradbroke runners. Graff and Chief Ironside have 52kg and Delectation Girl 51kg.
. Hugh Bowman will ride Tactical Advantage in Royal Randwick's corresponding feature sprint on Saturday, the 1100m Listed Bob Charley AO Stakes (formerly June Stakes).
The talented sprinter shares topweight at 60kg with Classique Legend and Melbourne mudlark Jungle Edge.
Lees also nominated recent Randwick winner Witherspoon (53kg), but hasn't yet committed her to a start.
With the rail out 9m, only 13 horses will be permitted to run in the Bob Charley.
Another recent Randwick winner High Opinion is a dual entry for both Randwick and Eagle Farm, but Lees is yet to decide if he will stay at home for the Benchmark 78 Handicap (2400m), where he has 60.5kg, or head north for a Benchmark 80 Handicap (2200m), which currently has only 11 nominations and they have been extended until 9am tomorrow.
