Blind Raise Brisbane bound
The Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young-trained Blind Raise will soon be bound for Brisbane, following an impressive right-handed jumpout victory at Cranbourne on Monday.
The two-year-old son of Ace High is the $4.50 favourite in early markets for next month’s Gr.1 JJ Atkins (1600m) after producing strong wins over 1400m at Sandown and Flemington in his only two starts to date.
The Cranbourne-trained youngster will head north for his Queensland debut in next Saturday’s Gr.2 BRC Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m).
Craig Williams partnered Blind Raise in the reverse-direction jumpout, where the gelding defeated three rivals despite testing heavy conditions at the Cranbourne Training Complex.
Trent Busuttin confirmed Blind Raise would fly to Brisbane on Tuesday, giving the youngster time to settle into the warmer climate ahead of his first interstate assignment.
“It’s the only flight going up so we’ll just get him up there and get some sun on him,” Busuttin told Racenet.
“If there was a plane going up the Tuesday before the race, he’d be on that, but the flight is two hours instead of being a 30-hour float trip.”
Blind Raise heads into the BRC Sires’ Produce Stakes four weeks after his dominant victory in the Listed Anzac Day Stakes at Flemington.
Busuttin said the talented two-year-old had continued to thrive since that success and praised his relaxed nature.
“He’s a very unassuming horse. He’s very quiet natured,” Busuttin said.
“He eats, sleeps and works.
“He galloped really well last Tuesday.
“He worked up with the horse that won at Pakenham, Obambulate, who is a reasonable level.
“We couldn’t be happier with him.”
Offered by his breeders The Oaks Stud in Book 1 of Karaka 2025, Blind Raise was purchased by Busuttin Young Racing for $70,000. The unbeaten gelding has already earned A$140,725 in stakes from his perfect two-win career.
Blind Raise is by Rich Hill Stud stallion Ace High and is out of the Darci Brahma mare Away Cruising. A two-race winner herself, Away Cruising is a daughter of champion mare Seachange, who carried The Oaks Stud colours to seven Group One victories and dual New Zealand Horse of the Year titles.
Away Cruising is also a half-sister to stakes-placed performer Divan and Pelican, the dam of Group One performer and emerging Coolmore stallion prospect Storm Boy.
Blind Raise is one of two winners from two foals to race out of Away Cruising, whose progeny also includes five-race winner Usir (by American Pharoah).
There are five lots entered in the New Zealand Bloodstock National Weanling Sale by Ace High, with the sire also well represented through the Queensland Winter Carnival by Gr.1 Doomben Cup (2000m) contender She’s A Hustler. – NZ Racing Desk
Per Incanto youngsters continue to shine
Little Avondale Stud’s Per Incanto has turned back the clock this season with the farm stalwart’s younger offspring doing him proud.
The Masterton nursery enjoyed further juvenile success on Saturday when homebred youngster Incandescent (NZ) triumphed in the Listed Champagne Stakes (1600m) at Ellerslie.
“Per Incanto has had four black-type two-year-olds this year, as we know he’s never really been known as a sire of two-year-olds except for his first crop,” Williams said.
The resident son of Street Cry has also been represented by Listed Maribyrnong Trial Stakes (1000m) winner Eurocanto, while Oak Lightning (NZ) ran second in the Listed Redoute’s Choice Stakes (1200m) and Spellbound (NZ) was third in the Listed Challenge Stakes (1100m).
Spellbound’s stablemate Incandescent had previously finished runner-up in the Listed Waikato Veterinary Equine Centre Stakes (1400m) and was sold by Little Avondale for $200,000 at New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sale at Karaka.
He is the first foal of the Snitzel mare Saint Katarina, who was successful on two occasions and was a private purchase off friend Dean Harvey, of Victoria’s Baystone Farm.
“I’m trying to get another daughter of Snitzel at the moment, I’ve always liked the Snitzel cross with the Street Cry blood,” Williams said.
“Incandescent was always an athletic horse and neatly balanced with a lovely walk. He was a real workmanlike type.”
James believes there is plenty more to come from the gelding when he returns from a winter break.
“When you looked at him in the parade, you could see he is still a little immature. That was his last run, and he will come back stronger,” he said.
Saint Katarina didn’t get in foal in her first year at Little Avondale before producing Incandescent and unfortunately last year she had a stillborn colt to Per Incanto.
She’s currently in foal to Per Incanto’s son Little Brose and therefore carrying a three-quarter brother or sister to Incandescent.
“If she has a filly, we’ll more than likely retain it. It’s the beautiful Eight Carat family and the mare will be going back to Per Incanto this year,” Williams said.
Saint Katarina is a half-sister to the Group Three winners Saint Encosta (Encosta de Lago), Sheer Talent (Redoute’s Choice) and Kittens (Redoute’s Choice), with more recent black type form added by sprinter Illicit Dreams (NZ) (Vancouver), a two-time winner at Listed level.
Their fourth dam Great Klaire (Great Nephew) is a half-sister to the legendary Eight Carat (Pieces Of Eight). - Paul Vettise, LOVERACING.NZ News Desk
Crosswell impresses on debut
Trainer John Wheeler has high hopes for his promising juvenile Crosswell (NZ) (The Bold One) after he won impressively on debut in the CLAAS Harvest Centre Maiden 2YO (1200m) at Hawera on Sunday.
Wheeler trained his dam, Enchanted Lady (NZ) (Per Incanto), and while she only had the one start due to soundness issues, the Taranaki horseman rated her highly and he believes she has passed on her talent to Crosswell.
“She (Enchanted Lady) was a very fast horse, probably one of the fastest horses I have ever trained, but I couldn’t keep her sound,” Wheeler said.
“I suggested to the guy that owns her, who is a good friend of mine, ‘Tommy, we have got to send her to a cheap horse and see if she can reproduce herself’. We sent her to The Bold One and we got him, and hopefully he can go on to be a good horse.”
While Crosswell impressed Wheeler early on, he has had behavioural issues, and following an unplaced trial over 850m at Foxton in March, he jumped a $31 outsider on Sunday.
Wheeler’s expectations matched the odds, and he was pleasantly surprised to see his charge on his best behaviour, and he performed accordingly, winning by a length over The Armorer (NZ) (Armory).
“We thought he was a pretty good horse, but he is quite a naughty horse, so we didn’t have great hopes because he does a lot of things wrong just in his day-to-day work,” Wheeler said.
“We thought he was liable to do that on raceday too but other than being a bit slow to load up in the barrier, he did everything right and consequently he won the race. He drew the outside too, which made it even better.
“It was a super run and he is a horse with a fair bit of ability.”
With a juvenile win under his belt, Wheeler said he is inclined to tip Crosswell out for a spell over winter in preparation for a spring three-year-old campaign.
“I haven’t got any plans with him as yet,” Wheeler said. “We will just see how he comes through this race, we may give him another race, but I am intending to turn him out in the next two or three weeks and I will prepare him for three-year-old racing.”
Wheeler also recorded a runner-up result with stablemate Scotty (NZ) (Zed) earlier on the card in the Egmont Tyres Maiden High Weight (2100m), and he said the Zed gelding is in line for a jumping career.
“He went well,” Wheeler said. “He went to the jumping trials today (Monday) and went well, I am pretty happy with him.”
With jumps racing now underway, Wheeler is excited about the prospects of Red Ned (NZ) (Zed) in some of the prestige jumps races following his resuming run over hurdles in the Wanganui Insurance Brokers Open Hurdle (3000m) earlier this month where he was runner-up behind Never Look Back (NZ) (Shocking).
“I am looking forward to the Grand National and those sort of races with Red Ned, I think he should be a star,” Wheeler said. - Joshua Smith, LOVERACING.NZ News Desk
Joshua Smith
NZ Stallion Awards
The Centaine Award
Sire whose NZ-conceived progeny have the highest earnings worldwide.
The Dewar Stallion Trophy
Sire whose progeny have the highest combined earnings in Australia and New Zealand.
The Grosvenor Award
Leading Sires by earnings in New Zealand.
NZ-bred Winners
GENERAL REDWOOD (NZ) 2021 by Redwood (GB) out of Ceebeel by Savabeel (AUS); Breeder: Kahukuri Bloodstock Ltd; Auckland; NZ; Race: HKJC Saint-Cloud H. 1650m.
THE AZURE (NZ) 2020 by Wrote (IRE) out of Trissie (AUS) by Giant's Causeway (USA); Breeder: Gillovic Bloodstock Ltd; Waikato; NZ; Race: HKJC Saint-Cloud H. 1650m.; Sale: 2022 National Yearling Sale - Book 2 V: Highview $31000 P: Equine Physiotherapy & Management/Hughes B/stock
PACKING ANGEL (NZ) 2020 by Shocking (AUS) out of Out of the Barn by Sakhee's Secret (GB); Breeder: L Williams; Waikato; NZ; Race: HKJC ParisLongchamp H. 1650m.; Sale: 2021 National Weanling Sale V: Westend Partnership $11000 P: Bay Of Plenty B/stock; 2022 National Yearling Sale - Book 1 V: Cambria Park $160000 P: Tartan Meadow B/stock
STARLIGHT GLIMMER (NZ) 2020 by Zacinto (GB) out of Queen Of Navarre by Guillotine; Breeder: T M & N M Brown; Waikato; NZ; Race: Perak TC Class 5A H. 1100; Sale: 2022 Ready To Run Sale V: JC Thoroughbreds $57500 P: Stable A3
WAR FRONTIER (NZ) 2016 by Declaration Of War (USA) out of Bay Star (AUS) by Rock Of Gibraltar (IRE); Breeder: M G Treloar; Waikato; NZ; Race: Perak TC Class 4B H. 1300; Sale: 2018 National Yearling Sale – Book 1 V: Curraghmore $80000 P: Mr JJ Soh
ON THE LASH (NZ) 2020 by Savabeel (AUS) out of Candelabra by Pins (AUS); Breeder: G J Chittick; Waikato; NZ; Race: HKJC Buffalo Hill H. 1800m.
FAMILY DELIGHT (MY) Handsome Alloy (Mac) Duntayar (NZ) 2017 by Dundeel out of Arpeggio by Tavistock; Breeder: Pencarrow Thoroughbreds Ltd; Waikato; NZ; Race: Selangor TC Class 4B H. 1275; Sale: 2019 National Yearling Sale – Book 1 V: Pencarrow Stud $40000 P: Glen Harvey Bloodstock
AI PHANTOM (MY) Imperial Red (NZ) 2021 by Spirit Of Boom (AUS) out of Sienna Rose (AUS) by More Than Ready (USA); Breeder: B J Lindsay MNZM & Mrs J E A Lindsay; Auckland; NZ; Race: Selangor TC Maiden 1200; Sale: 2023 National Yearling Sale – Book 1 V: Cambridge Stud $330,000 P: Proven Thoroughbreds / Mr S O’Dea / Hoysted Racing
DINGFENG SPEEDY (MY) Cheerful World (NZ) 2019 by Proisir (AUS) out of Hang Seng by Black Minnaloushe (USA); Breeder: Mrs B L & G W Thomas; Central; NZ; Race: Selangor TC Class 4A H. 1200; Sale: 2021 National Yearling Sale – Book 2 V: Archer Park $45000 P: Kaipira Lodge
BUURAQ SIXTY-ONE (NZ) 2016 by Sweet Orange (USA) out of Miss Annaliese by Don Eduardo; Breeder: Inner Mongolia Rider Horse Industry (NZ) Ltd; Auckland; NZ; Race: Selangor TC Class 4B H. 1200; Sale: 2018 Ready To Run Sale V: Regal Farm $60000 P: Hardwicke Racing / Waterford Bloodstock (BAFNZ)
CHOICE IS MINE (MY) Hana Man (NZ) 2021 by Turn Me Loose out of Te Hana by Falkirk; Breeder: S D Aberdein, R J Hannam, M Lawn, J & Mrs J S Millar; NZ; Race: Max Two Stakes 1400
EASTERN BARRACKS (MY) Tomintoul (NZ) 2021 by Tivaci (AUS) out of O’Me O’My by O’Reilly; Breeder: W Ross; NZ; Race: Selangor TC Class 4A H. 1400; Sale: 2022 National Weanling Sale V: Curraghmore $125000 P: Mr DM Goldsbury
SWEY CITY FLYER (NZ) 2022 by Sweynesse (AUS) out of Cape City Flyer by Volksraad (GB); Breeder: Windsor Park Stud Ltd; Waikato; NZ; Race: Selangor TC Class 5A H. 1300; Sale: 2024 National Yearling Sale – Book 2 V: Windsor Park Stud $45000 P: Mr KA Pertab; 2024 Ready To Run Sale V: Pertab Racing $45000 P: Simon Dunderdale / Joe Yorke Bloodstock
Global NZ-bred winners
2026-05-09 / 2026-05-16
AUSTRALIA
Ace High : San Marco (NZ) (Piazza by Sir Percy) 2020;
09 May 2026, 1st Leeton JC Leeton Cup 1600m
Almanzor : Pub Crawl (NZ) (Fun Seeker by Darci Brahma) 2021;
16 May 2026, 1st Tennant Creek RC Territory Water Solutions H. 1200m
Sold by Cambridge Stud at National Yearling Sale for $150000
Complacent : Parvati Party (NZ) (Parvati by Savabeel) 2019;
15 May 2026, 1st Kilmore TC Candm Build Group H. 2012m
Sold by KB Bloodstock at Ready to Run Sale for $85000
Contributer : Conducive (NZ) (Astardia by Starcraft) 2022;
15 May 2026, 1st Albany RC Western Corporate Project Management Maiden P. 1100m
Sold by Mapperley Stud Ltd at National Yearling Sale for $130000
Darci Brahma : Milton Road (NZ) (Special Asset by The Factor) 2019;
09 May 2026, 1st Burrandowan PRC Kewpie Stockfeeds H. 1175m
Sold by Goodwood Stud at National Weanling Sale for $18000
El Roca : Eight on the Dot (NZ) (Ready at Eight by More Than Ready) 2018;
16 May 2026, 1st SAJC Dominant Advantage H. 1950m
El Roca : Eight on the Dot (NZ) (Ready at Eight by More Than Ready) 2018;
13 May 2026, 1st Gawler & Barossa JC Contract Engineering H. 2112m
Gallant Guru : Blazing Guru (NZ) (Ignite by Yamanin Vital) 2019;
10 May 2026, 1st Mudgee DRC Midwestern People Against Violence H. 2000m
Iffraaj : Western Empire (NZ) (Western Jewel by Jeune) 2017;
16 May 2026, 1st WATC Belmont Sprint Gr.3 1400m
Niagara : Synchro (NZ) (La Tourneau by Lonhro) 2020;
16 May 2026, 1st SAJC Sportsbet H. 1300m
Niagara : Fringes (NZ) (Miss Jaydeejay by Golan) 2022;
09 May 2026, 1st SAJC South Australia Fillies Classic Gr.3 2546m
Ocean Park : Salt Spray (NZ) (Cool Storm by One Cool Cat) 2022;
09 May 2026, 1st Illawarra TC Louise Moulton Mother's Day Maiden P. 1600m
Sold by Waikato Stud Ltd at National Yearling Sale for $150000
Per Incanto : Swing Your Magic (NZ) (Swing a Deel by Dundeel) 2021;
16 May 2026, 1st Wodonga TC Sunshine Trust H. 1300m
Sold by Cheltenham Stables at Ready to Run Sale for $50000
Per Incanto : Dream Illusion (NZ) (Perfect Dream by Commands) 2020;
16 May 2026, 1st Carnarvon RC Shark Bay Prawn H. 1400m
Pierro : War Eternal (NZ) (Aleria by Fastnet Rock) 2018;
16 May 2026, 1st BRC Bernborough H. L 1600m
Sold by Cambridge Stud at National Yearling Sale for $160000
Pride of Dubai : Desert Lightning (NZ) (Isstoora by High Chaparral) 2019;
09 May 2026, 1st SAJC Goodwood H. Gr.1 1200m
Sold by Little Avondale Stud at National Yearling Sale for $150000
Proisir : Sunshineinmypocket (NZ) (Sunrise Ruby by Jimmy Choux) 2020;
09 May 2026, 1st GCTC City Council H. 1200m
Sold by Haunui Farm at National Weanling Sale for $6000
Redwood : Nightline (NZ) (Decimal by El Roca) 2022;
09 May 2026, 1st GCTC Gold Coast Bracelet L 1800m
Sold by Westbury Stud at National Yearling Sale for $75000
Ribchester : Stylin' (NZ) (She is All Fashion by Duke Of Marmalade) 2022;
10 May 2026, 1st Kalgoorlie Boulder RC Racing WA Provincial Championship Heat H. 1200m
Sold by Haunui Farm at National Yearling Sale for $10000
Sacred Falls : Sacred Ingot (NZ) (Gold Fever by Savabeel) 2020;
10 May 2026, 1st Moruya JC Ray White Maiden H. 1425m
Sold by Waikato Stud Ltd at National Yearling Sale for $75000
Savabeel : Monopolistic (NZ) (Bayrock by Fastnet Rock) 2022;
09 May 2026, 1st Gosford RC Elite Sand and Soil H. 2100m
Savabeel : Raetihi (NZ) (Lego by O'Reilly) 2019;
09 May 2026, 1st Gordonvale TC Battle of the Bush Qualifier Open H. 1100m
Sold by Ohukia Lodge Ltd at Ready to Run Sale for $155000
Savabeel : Let Lily Loose (NZ) (Stolen Gem by Snitzel) 2022;
15 May 2026, 1st Southside Racing ACW Facility Services Maiden P. 1400m
Sold by Haunui Farm at National Yearling Sale for $650000
Savabeel : Chispa (NZ) (Scintillula by Galileo) 2022;
13 May 2026, 1st ATC Kia Western Region H. 1800m
Savabeel : Samurai Warrior (NZ) (Hiragana by Fusaichi Pegasus) 2020;
16 May 2026, 1st Toowoomba TC Hope Horizons H. 1890m
Super Seth : Kilman (NZ) (Thy by O'Reilly) 2022;
16 May 2026, 1st BRC Rough Habit P. Gr.3 2000m
Tarzino : Zinovation (NZ) (First Bloom by Dylan Thomas) 2021;
12 May 2026, 1st Moe RC Ladbrokes Maiden P. 2439m
Sold by Mapperley Stud Ltd at National Yearling Sale for $70000
Tavistock : Asterix (NZ) (Mourasana by Shirocco) 2018;
09 May 2026, 1st Gosford RC Gosford Gold Cup L 2100m
Sold by Curraghmore at Ready to Run Sale for $450000
Time Test : Luton Hoo (NZ) (Royal Excess by Exceed and Excel) 2020;
16 May 2026, 1st Toowoomba TC Harvey Black Group H. 1300m
Turn Me Loose : Mr Trafficanti (NZ) (Traffic by Lonhro) 2018;
13 May 2026, 1st Gawler & Barossa JC Magain Fielke Real Estate H. 1706m
Zacinto : Cliodhna Maeve (NZ) (Vera de Bosset by Stravinsky) 2020;
16 May 2026, 1st Hughenden JC Page and Co Hay Supplies Maiden P. 1200m
HONG KONG
Belardo : Jolly Jumper (NZ) (Maneo Invictus by Volksraad) 2021;
09 May 2026, 1st HKJC Pok Fu Lam Public Riding School H. 1400m
Redwood : General Redwood (NZ) (Ceebeel by Savabeel) 2021;
13 May 2026, 1st HKJC Saint-Cloud H. 1650m
Shocking : Packing Angel (NZ) (Out of the Barn by Sakhee's Secret) 2020;
13 May 2026, 1st HKJC ParisLongchamp H. 1650m
Sold by Westend Partnership at National Weanling Sale for $11000
Sold by Cambria Park at National Yearling Sale for $160000
Wrote : The Azure (NZ) (Trissie by Giant's Causeway) 2020;
13 May 2026, 1st HKJC Saint-Cloud H. 1650m
Sold by Highview at National Yearling Sale for $31000
Wrote : Oneshot (NZ) (Wild Rock by Fastnet Rock) 2022;
09 May 2026, 1st HKJC Lei Yue Mun Public Riding School H. 1000m
Sold by Highview at National Yearling Sale for $62500
MALAYSIA
Belardo : Flying Finn (NZ) (Mars Bars by Bullbars) 2021;
09 May 2026, 1st Perak TC Class 5A 1400m
Charm Spirit : Precious Asset - Arigato (Mal.) (NZ) (Amour Cache by Exceed and Excel) 2018;
09 May 2026, 1st Perak TC Enrich S. 1200m
Sold by Henley Park at National Yearling Sale for $100000
Sold by Woburn Farm at Ready to Run Sale for $150000
Ocean Park : Mega Skye (NZ) (Legs by Pins) 2022;
10 May 2026, 1st Selangor TC Restricted Maiden 1200m
Sold by Waikato Stud Ltd at Ready to Run Sale for $65000
Telperion : Trees of Valinor (NZ) (China Choice by Encosta de Lago) 2021;
10 May 2026, 1st Selangor TC Class 4A 1500m
Sold by Westbury Stud at Ready to Run Sale for $55000
Time Test : Silver Dragon (NZ) (Miss Cosimo by Giant's Causeway) 2020;
10 May 2026, 1st Selangor TC Class 4B 1200m
Sold by Little Avondale Stud at National Weanling Sale for $42500
Sold by Kilgravin Lodge at Ready to Run Sale for $110000
