Blind Raise carries Seachange family into Caulfield Guineas contention

Blind Raise’s victory in Saturday’s Group 3 Caulfield Guineas Prelude has strengthened both his Group 1 prospects and the commercial position of Oaks Stud’s Seachange family.

The Ace High gelding, trained by Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young, started the 1400-metre Prelude as the $2.40 favourite and overcame the widest barrier under Blake Shinn. He defeated Tornado Valley and American Eagle, taking his record to four wins from five starts.

Blind Raise was subsequently quoted at $4 for the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas over 1600 metres on October 10, behind the Chris Waller-trained Tron Bolt at $3.50, while other market assessments had the pair sharing favouritism.

Busuttin said Blind Raise would head directly to the Guineas after making a two-week turnaround into the Prelude. The gelding is also nominated for the Group 1 Cox Plate, run two weeks after the Guineas.

Bred by The Oaks, Blind Raise is the second foal from Darci Brahma mare Away Cruising, a daughter of seven-time Group 1 winner Seachange. The Cape Cross mare was twice New Zealand Horse of the Year and remains in retirement at the Cambridge stud.

Blind Raise was offered as Lot 467 in The Oaks’ Karaka 2025 Book 1 draft. He initially passed in before Busuttin Young Racing bought him privately for $70,000 several days later.

“He was a beautiful yearling, he was a big, kind horse and has stayed that way,” Oaks general manager Rick Williams told NZ Racing News. “He’s got all the talent, that’s for sure.”

Blind Raise’s emergence adds to The Oaks’ ongoing development of the Seachange family.

“All branches of the Seachange family have been winning, they’re flying at the moment and we’re still breeding from seven or eight of the family, daughters and granddaughters,” Williams said.

Away Cruising also has a juvenile brother to Blind Raise. The colt was withdrawn from the New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale after a superficial paddock injury but has since been broken in. Williams said The Oaks had not decided whether to race or sell him.

The mare has an Almanzor colt scheduled for sale in 2027 and is due to foal to Almanzor again in October. The younger progeny extend The Oaks’ involvement in a family with a leading Caulfield Guineas contender.