New Zealand-bred colt Blind Raise (NZ) (Ace High) will take his place in Saturday’s A$6 million Gr.1 Cox Plate (2040m) at Flemington, with trainers Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young electing to chase one of Australian racing’s biggest prizes rather than a more conventional three-year-old target.
The talented colt finished runner-up to Warwoven (Sword Of State) in the Gr.1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m) last start and will renew his rivalry with the Bjorn Baker-trained galloper in the weight-for-age championship.
Busuttin admits the logical option would have been Saturday’s A$2 million Gr.1 Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) at Randwick, where Blind Raise would likely have started a short-priced favourite, but believes the opportunity to contest a Cox Plate is too good to pass up.
"The sensible thing would have been to go up to Sydney for the $2 million race, but you very rarely get a genuine live chance in a Cox Plate," Busuttin said.
"I think they've got him at 10/1, he is a genuine chance in it, so you've got to have a go."
Blind Raise and Warwoven will both carry just 49.5kg as they attempt to become the first three-year-olds to win the Cox Plate since Shamus Award (Snitzel) in 2013.
Jamie Melham has been booked to ride Blind Raise, who will face established Group One performers Sir Delius (Frankel), Aeliana (NZ) (Castelvecchio) and Birdman (Free Eagle), while Ceolwulf (NZ) (Tavistock) could back up following his runner-up finish in Saturday’s Gr.1 King Charles III Stakes (1600m) at Randwick.
A decision on whether Caulfield Cup favourite Cosmic Crusader (NZ) (Maurice) takes his place will be made on Tuesday.
The Caulfield Guineas was just the sixth career start for Blind Raise and his first attempt beyond 1400m, but Busuttin has been delighted with how the colt has recovered from the demanding contest.
"It was obviously a hard race last week but he came home and he ate everything, licked the feed bin clean, trotted out free in the morning, we took him for a walk and he was squealing and carrying on then got in the roll box and carried on," Busuttin said.
"So it was pretty safe that he'd come through it good and then he galloped Saturday morning and galloped up very, very good."
The Cox Plate will be staged at Flemington for the first time this year while Moonee Valley undergoes redevelopment.
The final field and barrier draw will be confirmed on Tuesday evening.
Blind Raise was bred and sold by The Oaks Stud.
- NZ Racing Desk
