Red-letter day for Raise The Flag

White Robe Lodge sire Raise The Flag had a red - letter day at Flemington on January 1 with a first and second in a listed race and another winner.

Parthesia staged a big run from back in the field to win the listed $A151,000 Bagot Handicap (2800m) by a length and a quarter from favourite Etah James. It was the 133rd running of the Bagot Handicap. Parthesia and Etah James are both mares by Raise The Flag. Three races earlier the Raise The Flag 3yr-old colt Civil Disobedience won a $A120,000 race over 2000m. Parthesia was bred at WRL by Brian and Hec Anderton.  Civil Disobedience was bred by Brian and Lorraine Anderton.

"It is exciting, great for Raise The Flag and timely for our offerings at the Karaka sales at the end of the month,'' said Karen Stewart, co-manager of the WRL stud.

WRL has four lots in Book 1 at Karaka, including a half sister to Parthesia. The quartet are from the first crop of WRL sire, Ghibellines. WRL has another lot by Ghibellines in the Book 2 sale.

Parthesia (ex Notable) and Civil Disobedience (ex Pernote) are both trained by Darren Weir at Ballarat. Both were ridden by Damian Lane. Weir bought both horses in conjunction with John Foote Bloodstock as yearlings at South Island sales. Parthesia, who cost $20,000, has also won the Tasmanian Oaks. Civil Disobedience, a $32,500 purchase, has won three of his last four starts. He has been nominated for the $1 million New Zealand Derby on March 3.

Broadside (by Raise The Flag) ran fourth in the listed Tattersalls Club Cup (2400m) at Randwick on January 1. Here To Stay (Raise The Flag - Ardent Fire), bred by Brian and Lorraine, cleared maiden ranks at Stratford the previous day.

Ticklish, the best sprinter trained by Brian and Shane Anderton, is the dam of Melt, winner of the group three Eclipse Stakes for 2yr-olds at Ellerslie on New Year's Day. Ticklish (by Maroof) won the listed Pegasus Stakes at Riccarton in 2006 in 54.2 which stands as a National record for 1000m. It is believed to be a world record on turf. Melt, a filly by Iffraaj and fourth foal of Ticklish, is trained by Nigel Tiley and raced by Pakuranga breeder Andrew Fowler, who raced Ticklish in partnership.