Blind Raise's faith rewarded with Cox Plate start

Trent Busuttin is aware that if the primary goal was to secure a Group 1 victory, the more prudent strategy would be to send Blind Raise to Sydney for this Saturday's Spring Champion Stakes.

Nevertheless, he also recognises that the type of opportunity that has arisen this year is not a common occurrence.

As a result, the Caulfield Guineas runner-up, who he trains in partnership with Natalie Young, will participate in this Saturday's $6 million Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m).

The son of Ace High is yet to claim a Group 1 win and would almost certainly be a strong favourite in the $2 million Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) at Randwick. However, he is set to face his Guineas victor, Warwoven, once more at Flemington.

"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 conveyed.

"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 the Bjorn Baker-trained Warwoven, who will both carry 49.5kg in the Cox Plate with Jamie Melham to ride Blind Raise, are aiming to emulate Shamus Award's 2013 achievement by winning Australia's weight-for-age championship as three-year-olds.

Established contenders Sir Delius, Aeliana, and Birdman are confirmed entrants. Ceolwulf is likely to compete again after his second place in the King Charles III Stakes, while a decision regarding the Caulfield Cup's beaten favourite, Cosmic Crusader, will be made on Tuesday.

Fillies Global Goal and Proxima Dea are currently the market leaders for the Spring Champion Stakes, which on Monday morning had 11 nominations, including Chris Waller's colts Stormy Marco, Diameter, Central Europe, and Wonka.

The Caulfield Guineas was only the sixth race for Blind Raise and his first beyond 1400m. However, Busuttin noted the day following the event that the horse had suffered no significant ill effects and has been pleased with his subsequent training.

"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 elaborated.

"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 field for this year's unusual Cox Plate, which will be contested at Flemington while Moonee Valley undergoes reconstruction, will be finalised on Tuesday night at a barrier draw ceremony in Melbourne.

Explore the latest racing betting markets for this exciting Cox Plate clash.