The Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young training partnership was keeping a close eye on the weather forecasts early Saturday.
An additional shower would have put Blind Raise’s participation in the Listed McKenzie Stakes (1300m) in jeopardy, with the possibility of waiting for the Listed Michael Moroney (1400m) at Flemington the following Saturday.
Despite Sandown receiving 7.2mm of rain during the early morning hours, the track was rated a Soft 7, a condition Busuttin and Young were comfortable with.
Sent out as the $3 favourite with Blake Shinn in the saddle, Blind Raise recorded a 1-¾ length win ahead of Wolf Gap ($5), while Shooting Brake ($16) finished a further three-quarters-of-a-length back 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 stated.
“It was touch and go and I sent out a late voice message (to the ownership group) saying we would probably scratch.”
While Blind Raise proved effective on the soft track, Busuttin confessed to having reservations about the gelding’s pre-race condition, noting he had sweated up considerably.
“That’s not him, he’s been bombproof all the way through,” Busuttin added.
“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 potential target for the horse, and Busuttin mentioned that the team would evaluate the best path to get there.
Likely options include the Group 3 Caulfield Guineas Prelude (1400m) on September 19 or the Group 2 Stutt Stakes (1600m) at Caulfield eight days later.
“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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