As the Spring Carnival progresses, the opportunities for horses to avoid strong competition diminish.
Trainer duo Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young are well aware of this pressure as they set their sights on the Caulfield Guineas with their promising galloper, Blind Raise.
The prestigious Caulfield Guineas, run over 1600 metres on October 10, has the Caulfield Guineas Prelude (1400m) this Saturday as a crucial lead-up event.
Blind Raise is one of nine contenders set to contest Saturday’s race. Despite drawing the outside barrier, gate nine, the gelding enters the event on the back of a solid first-up win at Sandown.
The son of Ace High had an impressive start to his career, winning his initial two races as a two-year-old. He then travelled to Brisbane for a winter campaign, which was cut short after just one start, where he finished ninth in the Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) at Eagle Farm, being found to be full of mucus.
A period of rest in the Queensland warmth allowed the gelding to recover from his respiratory issue before Blind Raise commenced his spring campaign.
Blind Raise was not fully wound up for his first-up start, having only completed one trial, but his inherent ability shone through when he secured a 1-¾ length victory.
“He came through it well as he was a bit above himself at Sandown,” Busuttin commented.
“He’d had just the one run trial leading into it and in the parade ring, it was noticeable he was sweating up and was up and about which is unlike him.
“We were happy with his trial and thought he could do it, but thinking they can do it and actually doing it, is two different things.
“With that run under the belt and then taking him to Caulfield on Tuesday, he should be a bit calmer.
“It will be another challenge on Saturday, and we’ll see how he goes this time, but I would imagine he will be very competitive.”
The Caulfield Guineas remains the gelding’s primary objective this spring, with the Cox Plate (2000m) at Flemington on October 24 also remaining a possibility.
Busuttin indicated that Blind Raise should benefit significantly from Saturday’s outing and be in peak form for Caulfield Guineas Day.
“His coat is nowhere near where we would like it to be,” Busuttin stated.
“We have just under a month to the Caulfield Guineas to get that right.”
Punters looking to get involved can explore the available racing odds at leading Australian betting sites.
