Blind Raise ready to show his hand at Sandown
Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young are hoping promising New Zealand-bred three-year-old Blind Raise (NZ) (Ace High) can lay the foundations for a Group One spring campaign when he resumes in Saturday’s Listed McKenzie Stakes (1300m) at Sandown.
The son of Ace High created a strong impression during his first preparation, winning his first two starts before his unbeaten record came to an end in the Gr.2 BRC Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) at Eagle Farm.
Blind Raise made a winning debut over 1400m at Sandown in April before taking an immediate step up to stakes company, producing an impressive two-length victory in the Listed ANZAC Day Stakes (1400m) at Flemington.
He subsequently headed north to Queensland, where he finished ninth in the BRC Sires’ Produce, after which Busuttin and Young elected to spell the gelding.
“He had a month off up there in Queensland, and then he came straight back into work,” Busuttin said.
“He has trialled up well. Just the one trial. We were initially going to give him a couple of trials and start him in the Michael Moroney Stakes, but with the McKenzie Stakes jumping out at the 1300m at Sandown, I thought it was a nice race for him.
“There are a couple of nice ones to beat. The Freedman horse looks very progressive, but we would be very disappointed if he is not fighting out the finish.
“He is going to naturally improve as he gets out over further later on, however he is sharp enough and forward enough that he will be hard to beat.”
Blind Raise will be ridden by Blake Shinn and has drawn barrier four in the nine-horse field, with the Anthony and Sam Freedman-trained Wolf Gap (Palace Pier) ($6) and the Danny O’Brien prepared Closer To Free (Street Boss) ($2.10) among his opposition.
A strong start to his campaign could put Blind Raise on a path towards two of the major three-year-old features later in the spring.
“In a perfect world, if he performs first and second-up, the Caulfield Guineas (Gr.1, 1600m) and Spring Champion Stakes (Gr.1, 2000m) could be on the agenda,” Busuttin said.
Blind Raise was a $70,000 purchase by Busuttin Young Racing from The Oaks Stud’s draft at the 2025 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale.
Bred by The Oaks Stud, he is out of the Darci Brahma mare Away Cruising, a daughter of outstanding seven-time Group One winner Seachange (NZ).
The stable will also be represented at Sandown by another progressive New Zealand-bred three-year-old in Cignetti (NZ) (Super Seth), who tackles The Valley @ Sandown Handicap (1500m).
The son of Super Seth returned with an impressive maiden victory over 1400m at Sale last month, overcoming a wide barrier before racing prominently and drawing clear to score by 1.75 lengths.
Cignetti had shown promise in two starts as a juvenile, finishing third on debut at Pakenham before taking on Blind Raise in the ANZAC Day Stakes at Flemington, where he finished fifth after setting the pace.
“I think he probably gets out over a bit further later in the spring,” Busuttin said.
“I think he is progressive. It looks a nice race for him, all similar horses that have won their maidens.”
Blake Shinn retains the ride on Cignetti, who will jump from barrier two.
