WRL sires run hot across Australasia over Easter
Raise The Flag
By Jonny Turner
White Robe Lodge stallions delivered even sweeter treats than the Easter Bunny when their progeny went on winning spree across Australasia over the long weekend.
A highly successful run was wrapped up close to home at Riverton on Monday when Raise The Flag mare Born To Be Bad broke her maiden over 2147m.
After a string of consistent performances, Born To Be Bad (Raise The Flag-Hazardous-Yamanin Vital) produced her best effort yet when powering away from her rivals to win by almost six lengths.
The five-year-old is raced by her trainer Sally McKay alongside her brothers Ross and Greg, mother Sue and sister Nikki Heath.
Raise The Flag added to his incredible record in Australia when Riding High (Raise The Flag-Enzed-Anziyan) scored his seventh career win at Werribee.
The seven-year-old strode out powerfully to show he is in for a big autumn and winter when scoring by two and a half lengths for trainer Henry Dwyer and rider Damien Thornton.
Ghibellines also contributed to a fantastic weekend for White Robe Lodge sires when his star son Markus Aurelius won his fourth consecutive race.
The White Robe Lodge bred four-year-old continued his stunning rise when making light work of his first test in open company when scoring over 1500m by more than two lengths on Saturday.
Markus Aurelius (Ghibellines-Evancho-Shinzig) took his record to six wins and three placings in just 11 starts for trainer Jamie Richards and owners the Te Akau Great Southern Man Syndicate.
The Ghibellines sired Country Boy (Ghibellines-Goldie Girl-Generous) and Exchange (Ghibellines- Swapping-Encosta De Lago) also ran strong placings for the White Robe Lodge Stable at Riverton on Saturday.
Gallant Guru added to White Robe Lodge’s winning run when he notched a double with wins on both sides of the Tasman.
The Mole (Gallant Guru-The Freckle-Grosvenor) grabbed her third career win with a tough effort for White Robe Lodge rider Courtney Barnes at Riverton on Saturday.
Champagne Friday (Gallant Guru-Emerald Fire-Honor Grades) continued her strong recent form when scoring over 2040m at Mornington on Sunday.
The win was the six-year-old’s second in just three starts following her 2100m victory at Stony Creek for Mornington trainer Nicole Dickson.
Prowler (Gallant Guru-Lurk-Seasoned Star), Gary (Gallant Guru-Elite Street-Seasoned Star), and Gold’nguru (Gallant Guru-Itjustgot Personal-Personal Escort) also ran placings for Gallant Guru over the weekend.
Late White Robe Lodge stallion Yamanin Vital added to his incredible siring legacy when Spying On You (Yamanin Vital-Nancy Wake-Personal Escort) won his second Great Eastern Steeplechase.
The 11-year-old took his career earnings past $699,000 with an incredible display of toughness to beat star jumper Zed Em in an epic running of the 4950m feature.
Born at White Robe Lodge and bred by Brian and Lorraine Anderton, Spying On You was a successful flat performer before being eventually being developed into a jumping star by Murray Bridge trainer Grant Young.
"It's pretty amazing, geez he's been a marvel this horse, I couldn't be prouder of him," Young said.
Spying On You came into Saturday’s race having won a flat race over 2900m at Oakbank, a week prior.