Veteran White Robe Lodge stallion Raise The Flag has been humanely euthanised after battling health issues in recent months, aged 20.
The impeccably bred son of Sadler’s Wells and blue-hen mare Hasili, retired to White Robe Lodge in 2010 after injury cut short his racing career after just one start.
A half-brother to a remarkable five Group One winners including Banks Hill, Intercontinental, Cacique, Heat Haze and Champs Elysees, Raise The Flag was also a half-brother to the Group Two winner Dansili, who went on to become a champion sire.
Pedigree came to the fore as Raise The Flag proved to be a good sire of stayers and jumpers.
From 53 runners in Australia, Raise The Flag sired 36 winners and 7 stakes horses, headed by Gr.1 Sydney Cup (3200m) winner Etah James while smart stayer Ablaze topped A$800,000 in prizemoney with feature wins including the Jericho Cup (4600m) and the Grand Annual Steeplechase (5500m) at Warrnambool.
“His stats in Australia were quite outstanding with his runners to winners and stakes winners to winners,” White Robe Lodge stud manager Wayne Stewart said.
“He left a Sydney Cup winner in Etah James, Broadside won a Newcastle Gold Cup and horses like Yogi, Parthesia, Civil Disobedience, Unfurl and Chequered Flag were more than handy stayers.
“He also sired some good jumpers like Ablaze, Flying Agent, Heberite, Tommyra and Riding High.
“He was a phenomenally bred horse and he did a lot for us in terms of forging relationships with a number of Australian trainers, including Darren Weir who was an avid fan.
“Quite a few Victorian trainers including Ciaron Maher and Symon Wilde sent mares to Raise The Flag, so we were lucky to have him.”
Raise The Flag’s daughter Let Fly ran out a good winner of the first race at Ellerslie on Saturday over 2400m and the six-year-old mare, who has now won four races, typifies her sire’s stock as she continues to improve with time. – NZ Racing Desk
