Graff moves north in Eureka shift
Graff will head to the Darling Downs from his previous NSW base, with the emerging stallion to stand at the McAlpines’ Eureka Stud.
Eureka Stud has secured the services of Group-class sprinter and emerging stallion Graff, with the son of Star Witness relocating to Queensland in 2026.
Graff, who has previously stood at Kitchwin Hills for the past five seasons, has developed a profile in Queensland through his stakes-winning son Grafterburners, who won the Gold Edition Plate and was also placed in an Arrowfield 3YO Sprint.
In his first two crops, Graff has already produced 22 winners from 56 runners, with his daughter Royal Chic also stakes-placed. He will begin his time at Eureka Stud at a service fee of $9900 (inc GST).
Eureka Stud principal Angus McAlpine said the farm was thrilled to have secured an interest in the stallion.
“We are delighted to have secured an interest in Graff to stand him in partnership with Australian Bloodstock,” McAlpine said.
“They are firm believers in the immense ability and toughness he had as a racehorse and are bullish to support him after seeing these qualities being passed onto his progeny.”
He will stand alongside Don Corleone and Encryption at the McAlpine’s farm at Cambooya near Toowoomba on the Darling Downs.
2026 will represent a new era for Eureka Stud, after champion Queensland sire Spirit Of Boom died in May.
Graff is gaining commercial traction and his 2026 yearlings have averaged more than $50,000, over five times his service fee.
His progeny has also proven appealing to the Hong Kong market, where he has several raced sons who have now found themselves in the stables of John Size, James Cummings, Brett Crawford and Chris So.
As a racehorse, Graff won his first three starts for trainer Kris Lees, culminating in the Group 3 San Domenico Stakes before he was placed in the Golden Rose behind The Autumn Sun.
He would also run fifth in The Everest and fourth in both the Lightning and Newmarket behind star mares Sunlight and In Her Time as a three-year-old.
Later in his career, he won the Group 2 Caulfield Sprint for Danny O’Brien.
Bred by B2B Bloodstock, he is out of the Group 3-winning daughter of Keep the Faith, Dinkum Diamond, who is a half-sister to multiple stakes winner Dawn Passage.
He was a $200,000 purchase by renowned judge Alan Bell as a yearling from the Magic Millions draft of Widden Stud in 2017.
He is one of two active sons of Star Witness at stud in Australia, the other being Vinery Stud’s Star Turn.
Author
Related Articles
Entries open for Magic Millions as 2027 sales calendar set
Magic Millions has opened entries for its 2027 yearling sales series, confirming a familiar January calendar squeeze with Karaka while reshuffling the dates of its Tasmanian and Perth auctions.
European tried-horse market ‘off its head’ – leading syndicator keeps powder dry
Australian Bloodstock’s Jamie Lovett says the soaring price of European stayers, driven by Middle Eastern buyers with “no budget”, has left the Melbourne Cup-winning syndicator struggling to secure spring carnival prospects beyond Al Riffa and Perisher.
Rowe On Monday – Showdown looms in 2YO auctions, Kelly’s fears for wagering growth amid QRIC exit and a homebred reward at Flemington
In this week’s Rowe On Monday, Magic Millions’ auction scheduling sparks industry debate, Kim Kelly’s warning on integrity’s role in wagering confidence and Riverina Lulu vindicates Ian Mandie’s breeding decisions.
