The New Zealand-bred Blind Raise (NZ) (Ace High) stamped himself as one of the horses to beat in next month’s Gr.1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m) with a dominant performance in the A$300,000 Gr.3 Sportsbet Caulfield Guineas Prelude (1400m) on Saturday.

Now a four-time winner from only five career starts, and a perfect two-from-two this season, Blind Raise has risen to $4 equal favouritism alongside Tron Bolt in the TAB’s fixed-odds market for the Caulfield Guineas on October 10.

The Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young-trained Blind Raise had resumed with a smart win in the Listed McKenzie Stakes at Sandown on September 5, and more of the same was expected on Saturday with the son of Ace High sent out as a $2.40 favourite.

But it was not smooth sailing for Blind Raise and his jockey Blake Shinn after jumping from the outside gate in a field of nine. They were caught wide when taking up a handy position on the outside of Alchemistic (Shamus Award) and American Eagle (Too Darn Hot) coming down the side of the track and then could have been left flat-footed and swallowed up when second favourite Wolf Gap (Palace Pier) swooped around the outside in a bold move before the home turn.

Shinn still had Blind Raise under a hold coming into the home straight, however, and then a couple of shakes of the reins was all it took for him to rally and take command. He changed gears and shot clear, opening up a winning margin of two and three-quarter lengths.

“That definitely was a statement ahead of the Caulfield Guineas,” Shinn said. “He’s an exceptional horse.

“I’m just delighted to get a win for Trent and Natalie, they’re great judges of horses. It didn’t work for the horse in the winter, when they took him to Queensland, and they’ve come back and he’s just got a real aura about him.

“We had to work a little bit early, and I wanted to give him a bit of a breather, which we did. And then they came at him with that mid-race move. But when they took off, he just came up underneath me really nicely. He won as he liked in the end and untouched.

“He was off a two-week back-up into today, after only one trial into his first-up run, so I’m pleased he’s got three weeks now into the Guineas. Trent and Natalie can do what they like with him and it’s exciting.

“He’s a $70,000 horse from New Zealand by Ace High, it’s just great and I’m really looking forward to the Caulfield Guineas.”

Busuttin was largely unfazed by Blind Raise’s wide trip and the mid-race move.

“We thought Linda Meech (on Alchemistic) would lead and we would have to work,” he said. “And then Mark Zahra (on American Eagle) did his job and kept us out.

“Our horse has improved a hell of a lot. He’s such a relaxed, calm horse, and first-up off the back of one trial at Sandown, he was sweating, he was jig-jogging, he was up and about. But today he was asleep and I knew it was game on.

“He’s a horse with a good turn of foot. When they whipped around the outside and Blake was still sitting pretty on him, I was pretty happy.

“He will go into the Guineas without another run. It was a two-week turnaround without a break and it’s three weeks to the Guineas now and then possibly another two weeks to the Cox Plate (Gr.1, 2040m).”

Offered by his breeders The Oaks Stud in Book 1 of Karaka 2025, Blind Raise was a $70,000 purchase by Busuttin Young Racing. His five-race career has now produced four wins and A$440,475 in stakes.

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. - NZ Racing Desk

Wanganui gelding Knocks Off stakes win at Trentham

Rejuvenated galloper Knock Off (NZ) (Fabolous) proved too tough for his rivals in the Trentham mud as he dominated proceedings from the front to capture the Gr.3 Hunterville Vet Club Metric Mile (1600m) on Saturday.

Trainer Gerard Cvitanovich has played the patient game with the seven-year-old and is now reaping the rewards, with the son of Fabulous finally living up to the promise he showed earlier in his career.

Rider Leah Hemi took the bull by the horns from barrier rise and set up a steady pace in front. Approaching the home turn she had Knock Off travelling sweetly and when she asked him to go rounding the home bend, he bounded four lengths clear.

Dubai’s Potiki (NZ) (Ocean Park) chased hard from the top of the straight but couldn’t close in the final 100m, while quality mare Hi Yo Sass Bomb (NZ) (Complacent) showed her first glimpse of form in a new campaign with a gallant third.

Cvitanovich admitted he wasn’t sure how his charge would handle the testing track conditions and was delighted to see him cope as well as he did.

“We didn’t know how he would handle the track, but he deserved it (the victory),” Cvitanovich said. “Once the tracks began to suit him, he has come right. He is an enjoyable horse to have and is a joy to work with.

“It’s great to have everyone (the family) in him and this is just great.”

Knock Off has now won six of his 19 starts and has earned more than $203,000 in prizemoney for the Cvitanovich family, who own him.

Earlier on the card, promising gelding Vantage Point (NZ) (Vanbrugh) kicked off his path towards the Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton in November with a comprehensive victory in a three-year-old 1200m contest.

The leggy son of Vanbrugh jumped well in the five-horse field and dictated proceedings for rider Matt Cameron before easing clear to win handsomely on the Heavy10 surface.

Trainer Cody Cole was pleased to see his charge return to winning fashion and is looking forward to him stretching out further in this campaign.

“He has been working well and his jumpout was super,” Cole said. “He has a real will to do it and is only going to go further.

“That will take the freshness out of him, and he can step up to 1400m next time comfortably as he has plenty of upside.”

Vantage Point is the first foal out of Turn Me Loose mare Shining Peak (NZ) and comes from an extended family that includes multiple Australian stakes winners Centennial Park (NZ) (Thorn Park) and Ballack (NZ) (Montjeu). - Kevin Robertson

All roads lead to Riccarton for impressive colt

Te Akau Racing unleashed one of their leading candidates for the Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton in November when System Of Play (Ole Kirk) made short work of his rivals at Ellerslie on Saturday.

The unbeaten colt, who had won his only start as a two-year-old over 1200m at Te Rapa back in April, stepped out as the $1.80 favourite to win the Hello Youmzain – Champion 2nd Season Sire (1400m), and he did so in fine style in the hands of Michael McNab.

The son of Ole Kirk enjoyed an economical trip in midfield before being angled into the clear by McNab at the top of the straight. At this stage, speedy filly Grocer’s Girl (NZ) (Tarzino) had the field stretched as she made her bid for glory, however, System Of Play lengthened beautifully to hit the lead at the 100m before striding clear to win by half a length without raising much of a sweat.

Te Akau Racing assistant trainer Reece Trumper was excited with the colt’s return and what lies ahead for him.

“He is a very exciting colt on the way up,” Trumper said. “He has a lovely temperament, and everything has gone to plan, except the weather, this time around.

“We’ve been in discussions with Michael (McNab) right through and he thought 1400m first-up would be no problems.

“That’s why he is the 2000 Guineas favourite as he is some horse.

“We will see how he pulls up before we make any decisions and he will enjoy a week out of the stable on the water treadmill.”

McNab has a good opinion of the colt, who is now the $4 Fixed Odds favourite for the 2000 Guineas, which will be run on 14 November.

“He was good and he has a big spruik on him,” he said. “He will improve out of this as he had only had the two trials and went straight to 1400m. Just getting him back racing (is good) as he felt super.”

Purchased by Te Akau Racing boss David Ellis for $480,000 out of the Ohukia Lodge draft during the Ready To Run sale at Karaka in 2025, System of Play is out of the Medaglia D’Oro mare Statuesquely, who was placed at Group Three level in Australia and is closely related to dual Group One winner Lotteria.

Te Akau Racing added three further wins to their tally at Ellerslie courtesy of Towering Vision in the Trackside.co.nz 1600, Day One in the Golf Warehouse 1300, and Top Shelf in the Windsor Park Stud 1400.

Earlier on the card, Spellbound (NZ) (Per Incanto), a three-year-old son of Per Incanto, also caught the eye when beating his age group rivals over 1200m to open the day at Ellerslie.

The Roger James and Robert Wellwood-prepared gelding had to play second fiddle to stablemate Shore Breeze (Too Darn) on the tote, however, a top-class ride by Corentin Berge saw him power home against the inside rail to defeat Rossella (NZ) (Hello Youmzain)and Shore Breeze, who was held up badly at a vital stage in the home straight.

James was pleased with the victory as he considers a path to the New Zealand 2000 Guineas for his charge.

“It was a good ride by Corentin, although it is always easier when you are drawn (barrier) one,” James said.

“He has always promised he could be better than average, but he is growing, so we are hoping he can hold together for a preparation that ends in the middle of November.

“It’s my impression that 1400m to 1600m will suit him.” - Kevin Robertson