With the Spring Carnival well underway, the options for horses to avoid facing formidable opposition are becoming increasingly scarce.
Trainers Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young are acutely aware of this reality as they prepare Blind Raise for a significant tilt at the Caulfield Guineas.
The Caulfield Guineas, run over 1600 metres on October 10, has the Caulfield Guineas Prelude (1400m) this Saturday as a crucial preparatory race.
Blind Raise is one of nine horses entered for Saturday’s event. He faces a difficult draw from barrier nine, but enters the competition following a successful return to racing at Sandown.
The son of Ace High had a stellar start to his career, winning his initial two races as a two-year-old. His subsequent winter campaign in Brisbane was halted after a single start, where he finished ninth in the Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) at Eagle Farm, having been found to be suffering from mucus.
A spell in the Queensland climate allowed the gelding to recover from his respiratory issue before Blind Raise embarked on his spring preparation.
Blind Raise was considered to be not fully tuned for his first-up run, having had only one trial, but his inherent quality was evident in 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 is the gelding’s primary target this spring, and he also remains in contention for the Cox Plate (2000m) at Flemington on October 24.
Busuttin anticipates that Blind Raise will benefit further from Saturday’s outing and will be in peak condition 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.”
Check out the latest online bookmakers for the Caulfield Guineas Prelude.
