Caulfield win boost for sale yearlings

The win of Unfurl in an $A80,000 race at Caulfield on Thursday (26/1/2017) was a boost for yearlings to be offered by White Robe Lodge at the New Zealand Bloodstock sale at Karaka on Wednesday (1/2/2017).  The yearlings are out of Inferno and Ortem Fire, both half-sisters to Unfurl, who won a benchmark 84 2000m for fillies and mares.  A filly by Reliable Man is the first foal of Ortem Fire, the joint top weight filly in the Free Handicap for 3yr-olds to 1600m for the 2012-13 season. The filly out of Inferno is the second foal of a mare who won two Canterbury Gold Cups.  Unfurl, who has won four races from the Ballarat stable of Darren Weir, was a $40,000 purchase as a 2yr-old at the 2013 South Island sale when offered by Brian and Lorraine Anderton, of WRL.

The fillies out of Inferno and Ortem Fire and another by Zacinto - Of The Essence arrived at Karaka on Wednesday after a four day trip from North Taieri.

"They have settled well," said Wayne Stewart, the WRL stud manager who accompanied them.

Unfurl is by WRL sire Raise The Flag, who sired Countess Ruby, an impressive maiden winner over 1600m at Wingatui a few minutes after Unfurl was successful.

Countess Ruby came from last at the 700m in a 14-horse field. A 4yr-old mare, Countess Ruby was bred at WRL, broken in and sold privately as a 2yr-old through Wingatui trainer Terry Kennedy acting for Ray and Jenny Hughes of Wanaka. She was a replacement for Remind Me who won three races. Countess Ruby is the second foal of Sustain and the first to race. Sustain (by Danzighill) won two races and her dam, Ebony Bijou (by Noble Bijou) won 10 including the 1993 Hokitika Cup.

Raise The Flag also sired the winners Raise You Ten ($50,000 Gore Guineas) and Princess Brook ($30,000 Gore Cup) last Saturday.