The Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young stable was monitoring the weather closely on Saturday morning.
Another downpour or shower would have placed Blind Raise in serious doubt of contesting the Listed McKenzie Stakes (1300m) on Saturday, with the gelding possibly being reserved for the Listed Michael Moroney (1400m) at Flemington on Saturday week.
While Sandown received 7.2mm of rain in the early hours of Saturday morning, the track was rated a Soft 7, and Busuttin and Young were pleased to proceed.
Sent out as the $3 favourite under Blake Shinn, Blind Raise secured a 1-¾ length victory from Wolf Gap ($5), with Shooting Brake ($16) a further three-quarters-of-a-length away in third.
“We don’t live far from here and it was pouring down and then at Cranbourne, at the track (this morning), it never misses it,” Busuttin said.
“It was touch and go and I sent out a late voice message (to the ownership group) saying we would probably scratch.”
Although Blind Raise handled the soft track, Busuttin expressed concern during the pre-race parade about how much the gelding had sweated up.
“That’s not him, he’s been bombproof all the way through,” Busuttin stated.
“It was genuinely a concern and even in the running, in the first furlong, he was trucking a bit, but he had had only the one trial since Brisbane, so that will bring him on.
“It was pretty comfortable (in the end) and the second horse was pretty good.
“The watch was pretty good so we’re pretty happy.”
The Group 1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m) on October 10 is a target for Blind Raise, and Busuttin indicated the team would deliberate on the path to reach the contest.
The Group 3 Caulfield Guineas Prelude (1400m) on September 19 or the Group 2 Stutt Stakes (1600m) at Caulfield eight days later are likely options.
“It’s either the Prelude or the Stutt Stakes and just with him being a bit fresh and keen, I think a two-week turnaround to the Prelude will do him the world of good,” Busuttin concluded.
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