Blind Raise builds towards Caulfield Guineas tilt

Blind Raise (NZ) (Ace High) will head into the Gr.1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m) as one of the leading contenders after strengthening his claims with an emphatic victory in Saturday’s Gr.3 Caulfield Guineas Prelude (1400m).

The New Zealand-bred three-year-old will go straight into the October 10 feature, with trainers Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young confident he has the racing pattern and further improvement to make his presence felt at Group One level.

“The plan was always to go third-up into the Caulfield Guineas,” Busuttin said.

“His ability to put himself on the speed is certainly a great advantage.”

Blind Raise has tasted defeat only once in five starts, with his two spring appearances producing victories in the Listed McKenzie Stakes (1200m) at Sandown and the Caulfield Guineas Prelude.

Busuttin believes the gelding has continued to improve throughout his preparation.

“We thought he could do that, but you always want to see them go out there and do it,” he said.

“He has certainly improved from that first run and second run.”

Busuttin was particularly pleased with Blind Raise’s Prelude performance given the work he was required to do early in the race.

“He had to work up the hill,” he said.

“They all talk about the Caulfield hill from the mile to the 1400m, and he did some serious work getting up and across.

“Those horses made the mid-race move, but if they don’t, he just sits outside the leader and wins anyway. I don’t think Blake used the stick on him at all.”

Blind Raise’s pedigree also gives connections confidence that he can continue to progress as he steps up in distance.

The gelding is by Rich Hill Stud stallion Ace High, who won both the Gr.1 Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) and Gr.1 VRC Derby (2500m) while his granddam is seven-time Group One winner and dual New Zealand Horse of the Year Seachange.

“I think Ace High was a bit underrated,” Busuttin said.

“They win the Derby and get labelled as a plugger or the like, but I think he retired a bit prematurely and could have gone on to be a really top weight-for-age horse if he had raced on.

“Blind Raise’s granddam was Seachange and she was a very good Group One mare in New Zealand over 1200m and 1400m, so she certainly brings a bit of speed into him.”

Blind Raise was bred by The Oaks Stud and purchased by Busuttin Young Racing for $70,000 from the stud’s Book 1 draft at Karaka in 2025.

His early success has already delivered a significant return, with his five starts producing four wins and A$440,475 in prizemoney.

“It’s good when horses like him come out and prove to be good horses when you’re not paying a fortune for them,” Busuttin said.

“It shows everyone can get involved and there is a chance of finding a good horse.”

While the immediate focus is firmly on the Caulfield Guineas, Blind Raise remains nominated for the Gr.1 Cox Plate (2040m), which will be run as a one-off at Flemington on October 24 with The Valley under construction.

Busuttin said the weight-for-age feature would only become a serious consideration if Blind Raise performs up to expectations in the Guineas.

“When you think you have a Guineas horse, you keep him in the Cox Plate,” he said.

“If he can win the Guineas, which he looks a live chance of doing, three-year-olds have a good record in the Cox Plate.

“It’s a bit ambitious, but if we get through the Guineas and he has another win against his name, we will certainly look at it.

“I would have loved to have seen him in a Cox Plate at The Valley with his racing pattern, but he has won at Flemington, so if we end up in that race we will be very happy.”