Blind Raise strikes in McKenzie Stakes

Expat New Zealand trainers Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young considered scratching Blind Raise (NZ) (Ace High) from Saturday’s A$175,000 Listed McMahon’s Dairy McKenzie Stakes (1300m) at Sandown, but their decision to run paid off and put the Kiwi-bred gelding on target for bigger and better things.

Blind Raise won two of his three starts as a juvenile including the Listed ANZAC Day Stakes (1400m), and Busuttin and Young came into the spring of his three-year-old season with their eyes on races like the Gr.1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m) and Gr.1 Spring Champion Stakes (2000m).

The McKenzie was an important first step in that direction, although unsettled weather gave Busuttin plenty to think about in the lead-up to Saturday’s meeting.

“We don’t live far from here, and it was pouring down, and then at Cranbourne, at the track, it never misses it,” Busuttin said. “It was touch and go and I sent out a late voice message saying we would probably scratch.”

But they committed to a start on the Soft7 ground at Sandown, and under jockey Blake Shinn, Blind Raise sat just behind the leaders before getting off the rail and pouncing at the top of the straight. He comfortably put his eight rivals away through the final 300m and scored by a length and three-quarters.

“I learned from his jumpout leading into this that he’s a very good horse,” Shinn said. “He’s a lovely, big, scopey horse by Ace High, and he’s got a beautiful action on him and is quite light on his feet.

“We came here pretty confident, and it’s just nice to see him deliver.

“It’s great for the stable. Trent and Natalie are really great judges of horses, and he's only had the one jumpout leading into today, so I think there's improvement to come and it's exciting for everyone involved.

“I didn't want to go to the fence. I sort of got forced down there, and then I just had to work my way out, because the track's probably better down the middle now. Once he was out, he had the race won and in his keeping from the 400m.”

Offered by his breeders The Oaks Stud in Book 1 of Karaka 2025, Blind Raise was a $70,000 purchase by Busuttin Young Racing. He has now won three of his four starts and A$258,725 in stakes.

“He’d had only the one trial since his last race in Brisbane, so that will bring him on,” Busuttin said. “It was pretty comfortable and the second horse was pretty good.

“The watch was pretty good, so we’re pretty happy.

“His next start will be either the Guineas Prelude (Gr.3, 1400m, September 19) or the Stutt Stakes (Gr.2, 1600m, September 27). Just with him being a bit fresh and keen, I think a two-week turnaround will do him the world of good.”

Blind Raise is by Rich Hill Stud stallion Ace High out of the Darci Brahma mare Away Cruising. Herself a two-race winner, Away Cruising is a daughter of Seachange (NZ), who carried The Oaks Stud’s colours to seven Group One victories and two-time New Zealand Horse of the Year honours.

Away Cruising is a half-sister to the stakes-placed Divan (NZ) and also to the two-race winner Pelican (NZ), dam of Group One performer and young Coolmore stallion prospect Storm Boy.

Blind Raise is one of two winners from two foals to race out of Away Cruising. She is also the dam of five-race winner Usir (by American Pharoah).

After foaling Blind Raise in 2023, Away Cruising returned to Ace High and produced a colt that is now a two-year-old. She has a yearling colt by Almanzor.