Sydney Cup win elevates Raise The Flag to world stage
By Jonny Turner
Raise The Flag achieved success on the world stage and continued White Robe Lodge's rich thoroughbred breeding legacy when Etah James won the Sydney Cup at Randwick.
The blueblood son of Sadler's Wells notched his first group 1 win as a sire and furthered the incredible record of his dam, Hasili, when his 7yr-old daughter prevailed for trainers Ciaron Maher and David Eustace and rider Glen Boss.
Success in good Australian races with rich purses is nothing new for Raise The Flag, who has compiled an incredible record across the Tasman.
Etah James, from Danasinga mare, Etah, recorded her sire's tenth stakes win from just 31 starters in Australia.
That tiny batch of 31 horses have won a massive 74 races and more than A$4,500,000 in prizemoney.
The White Robe Lodge team of proprietors, Brian and Lorraine Anderton, and studmasters, Wayne and Karen Stewart, were naturally thrilled when Etah James topped his list of Australian achievements.
For Wayne Stewart the result was a case of Raise The Flag showing he can offer breeders a stepping stone to races even bigger than Australasia's staying features.
The stallion is now offering breeders the chance to compete with the world's best.
"We were absolutely rapt with the result," Stewart said.
"And it was a truly international race with the favourite (Young Rascal) coming down from the Northern Hemisphere."
"Etah James winning showed that Raise The Flag can give breeders access to some of the biggest international staying races."
The Sydney Cup has not just been good to Raise The Flag's progeny.
Etah James' win came just two years after White Robe Lodge bred Yaminin Vital gelding, Who Shot Thebarman (Yamanin Vital - Ears Carol) , took out the 3200m feature.
That victory came in the same year White Robe Lodge's Gallant Guru scored another group 1 staying win at Randwick in the Metropolitan with Patrick Erin (Gallant Guru - Mega Babe).
It could be up to another of Raise The Flag's progeny to make an international mark next.
Trips to Japan and the UK and Europe are being considered by trainers Maher and Eustace for another of their star stayers, the White Robe Lodge bred Ablaze (Raise The Flag - Alight).
Raise The Flag's international presence is two-fold courtesy of his brilliant pedigree.
The sire provides breeders access to one of world thoroughbred breeding's great producers in his dam, Hasili.
Raise The Flag became the fourth son of the Kahyasi mare to sire a group 1 winner, alongside her three Danehill sons Dansili, Cacique and Champs Elysees.
Hasili's tally of group 1 producers is rounded out at six by her filly, Banks Hill, who has left a top level winner.
Hasili's progeny have not just been stars in the breeding barn, with Banks Hill, Cacique, Champs Elysees, Heat Haze and Intercontinental winning group 1 races on the track.
"She is just an incredible mare, Hasili," Stewart said.
"She would have to be one of the best mares that has ever gone to stud."
"To have four sons that have left group 1 winners is just incredible."
Raise The Flag's Sydney Cup win, his ability to leave quality stayers and his blueblood pedigree rank him as the best value for money sire standing anywhere in Australasia.
His service fee has been set at $6000+gst for the 2020-21 breeding season.
To book contact Wayne Stewart on 0274988037 or download a booking form fromhttp://www.whiterobelodge.co.nz/media/4325/Service%20Contract%202018-RTFblank.pdf