South Island sale draft

"A good even draft with some very nice types," said Karen Stewart, co-manager of White Robe Lodge Stud commenting on the 15 yearlings the stud has catalogued for the New Zealand Bloodstock South Island sale in Christchurch on April 15.

The draft comprises four lots by Gallant Guru (Australia); eight by Raise The Flag (Great Britain), two by No Excuse Needed (GB) and one by Star Witness(Aus).

"There are nice big colts by Gallant Guru out of On The Make and Lurk,'' she said.

The colt out of On The Make is the last foal of his dam, who has left On The Take (five wins). He is out of an O'Reilly mare and thus bred on the same cross as Include (Dunedin and Southland Guineas and South Island Breeders' Stakes).  The first two foals of Lurk, Secret Guru and Waylay (both by Gallant Guru) have been winners.  Star Witness, a group one inner in Australia at two and three and leading first season sire there in 2014-15, is represented by a filly out of Sheeza Drama, whose first foal has been a winner.

A colt by Raise The Flag from Stage Flash and a filly by the same sire from Cherry Creek (Canterbury Belle Stakes) in the WR draft are from the same family. Stage Flash has left News Flash (seven wins). Coulee, the first foal of Cherry Creek has won three races.

A Gallant Guru filly out of Emerald Fire is a sister to Ortem Fire and half-sister to Inferno and Unfurl (a Caulfield winner by Raise The Flag). Ortem Fire won a listed 1600m race for fillies at Riccarton as a 3yr-old. Inferno won the Canterbury Gold Cup twice.

The first foal of Elite Street, winner of the Invercargill Gold Cup, is in the draft.  The filly is by Gallant Guru.

Details of the 2016 SI sale entries  of WR Lodge:

bay colt Raise the Flag  - Ardent Fire

b c Raise the Flag - Bella Queen (Aus)

b filly  Raise the Flag - Cherry Creek (Aus)

b f Gallant Guru - Elite Street

b f Gallant Guru - Emerald Fire

b c  Raise the Flag - Final Show

b c No Excuse Needed - Jaylah

chestnut f No Excuse Needed - La Gem

b c  Raise the Flag  - Legal Note

ch  c Gallant Guru  - Lurk

b c Gallant Guru - On The Make

b c Raise the Flag - Perceptible

b c Raise the Flag  - Pernote

b f Star Witness - Sheeza Drama (Aus)

b c Raise the Flag - Stage Flash (Aus)