Trainers Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young are taking Blind Raise up to Brisbane following his strong performance at Flemington.
Blind Raise claimed the Listed Anzac Day Stakes (1400m) on Saturday, a race that stablemate Epimeles had captured back in 2024.
The decision was made by Busuttin and Young to give Epimeles a spell after his success to focus on spring targets, though they are avoiding repeating that with Blind Raise.
As the $2.15 favourite ridden by Beau Mertens, Blind Raise pulled clear for a two-length win over Profligate ($7.50), while Seraphox ($4.40) finished a half-head back in third.
Busuttin indicated that the Group 2 BRC Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) at Eagle Farm next month along with the Group 1 J J Atkins (1600m) in June are planned for Blind Raise in the near future.
“Plenty of things can go wrong between now and when they turn three and that’s why we want to go to Brisbane,” Busuttin said.
“When Epimeles won this race, we said we’d spell and go for the spring, but things haven’t stopped going wrong with him ever since.
“For this bloke, there’s two one-million-dollar races up in Queensland and I might even get a trip up there.”
The gelding remains perfect after two outings, having debuted victoriously at Sandown earlier this April.
It was satisfying for Busuttin to witness Blind Raise progress from his initial success to taking out a Stakes event on Saturday.
“He did it pretty impressively and the market said he would and you always want to see them do it, especially at their second start,” Busuttin said.
“He’s taken that next step, and he’s done it pretty easily, although he floated out in front by himself a bit, but it’s good to get the job done.”
Purchased for $70,000 in New Zealand, Blind Raise is by Victoria Derby winner Ace High out of a daughter of champion Group 1 winner Seachange.
“This horse has got some of his sire’s ability and his granddam’s ability, Seachange,” Busuttin said.
“She was a proper horse, and the blood always seems to come through out of those good mares, probably not the first line but in their second.”
Betting sites are already offering attractive racing odds for Blind Raise in the upcoming BRC Sires’ Produce Stakes; explore the top Australian betting sites for the best markets.
