Flemington played host to another compelling chapter of juvenile racing on ANZAC Day, as the famous Melbourne racecourse once again showcased emerging talent on its grand stage. The wide expanses of Flemington suited Blind Raise (NZ) perfectly, the colt stamping his authority on proceedings and maintaining his unbeaten record with a polished performance in the Listed ANZAC Day Stakes (1400m).
The son of Ace High added the A$175,000 Listed ANZAC Day Stakes (1400m) to an already promising résumé, becoming the latest graduate of Karaka 2025 to make a notable impact across Melbourne’s two-year-old features this season. His performance places him alongside recent stakes winners Satono Glow (NZ) and Torture (NZ), while fellow graduate Oak Lightning (NZ) has also shown early promise at black-type level.
Trained by the expatriate New Zealand partnership of Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young, Blind Raise was having just his second start. Yet he carried himself with the assurance of a far more seasoned runner. Ridden positively by Beau Mertens, he settled outside the leader before asserting control early in the straight and drawing clear to score by two lengths over the closing Profligate.
Busuttin was measured but clearly encouraged by the display.
“He was pretty impressive,” he said. “You always want to see them take that next step at their second start, and he’s done it quite easily. He might have just waited a touch when he got to the front, but it’s good to see him finish the job.”
Bred by The Oaks Stud, Blind Raise carries a distinguished pedigree as a grandson of Seachange (NZ), the seven-time Group One winner and dual New Zealand Horse of the Year. Purchased for $70,000 from Book 1 of Karaka 2025, he has now earned A$140,725 from two unbeaten appearances.
His debut success at Sandown on April 6 hinted at ability, but this latest effort confirmed his standing as a colt of genuine stakes class. The stable wasted little time in testing him at a higher level, and the decision was emphatically vindicated.
Attention now turns north, with Queensland targets firmly on the agenda. Plans include the Group Two Sires’ Produce Stakes over 1400 metres on May 30, followed by the Group One JJ Atkins Stakes (1600m) in mid-June—races that will offer a clearer measure of his long-term prospects.
Elsewhere, Karaka graduates continued to shape the weekend narrative. At Eagle Farm, Kronenbourg (NZ) produced a career-best performance to claim the Listed Brisbane Handicap (1600m), bringing up his 10th win from 32 starts. Trainer Tony Gollan also took encouragement from the return of stablemate Antino (NZ), whose fourth-place finish under top weight hinted at further success ahead.
In New Zealand, Atmospheric (NZ) stepped into stakes company with authority, landing the Listed Anzac 1600 at Otaki. Meanwhile, the Southern Filly of the Year Series concluded at Riccarton, where Miss Starlight secured top honours, although Perlino (NZ) stole the spotlight with an emphatic victory in the Warstep Stakes.
The weekend also carried a note of reflection, with the retirement of multiple Group One winner Antino marking the end of one of the more remarkable recent careers. His record—13 wins and A$3.47 million in earnings—stands as a testament to the enduring quality emerging from the Karaka sales.
As for Blind Raise, his trajectory appears only to be gathering momentum. With an unblemished record and natural progression on his side, he shapes as one of the more intriguing young horses to follow through the winter carnival and beyond.
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