Raise The Flag flies high in Aussie again
Raise The Flag’s staying star Flying Agent leaps to victory in the Crisp Steeplechase at Sandown
By Jonny Turner
The team behind staying star Flying Agent have their sights on the prestigious Grand National Steeplechase following their horse’s powerful victory in the A$150,000 Crisp Steeplechase at Sandown.
The White Lobe born, bred and developed son of Raise The Flag furthered his outstanding record in Victorian staying features when cruising away from his opposition to win the 4200m feature for trainer Amy McDonald and rider Lee Horner.
The victory was Flying Agent’s (Raise The Flag-Nancy Wake-Personal Escort) tenth over jumps in Australia and took his prize money earnings past $450,000 for White Robe Lodge clients Dean Lawrence, Diana Duff-Staniland and Paul Duffus.
The trio bought Flying Agent at the 2014 New Zealand Bloodstock South Island Yearling Sale for $24,000.
They now race the steeplechaser with a group of clients from the McDonald stable.
Breaking through the $500,000 barrier look a distinct possibility for Flying Agent as he heads towards his Grand National tilt.
Especially considering how well he travelled during his Crisp victory.
“He was bolting going down the hill, so I was just holding him together, I hadn’t asked him at all,” Horner said.
“I just held him until we got around the turn, the rail disappeared, he got up the inside really easy.”
“I was really cautious getting over the last and he was good to the line. The track’s probably wet enough for him there today, it’s a beautiful surface, he jumped faultlessly, as he was always does
“He’s definitely looking more like a National horse this time in than he was last time.”
Amy McDonald said she had some early concerns when Flying Agent was slow away.
But as the race went on, it didn’t matter at all.
“The plan was not to be that far back today, we thought he’d be similar to the other day at Warrnambool, but he missed the kick and Lee gave him a sensational ride, sneaking spots,” the trainer said.
“It was fantastic.”
Flying Agent will get his shot at the big A$350,000 Grand National prize pool at Ballarat on August 28.
Amy McDonald is also preparing White Robe Lodge bred Slammer (Raise The Flag-Miss Agavero-With Class) for a hurdling career in Australia.
Slammer trialled last week ahead as he prepares for his first hurdle start.
In another strong result for Raise The Flag, Kajino (Raise The Flag-Aliminium Bikerack-Fantastic Flight) continued the excellent start he has made to his hurdling career when winning at Te Rapa recently.
The eight-year-old has won two of his four starts and placed twice more in four starts over hurdles for trainer Diana Kennedy.
Raise The Flag will stand at a fee of $6000+GST in the 2022-23 breeding season and is open for bookings.