White Robe Lodge leading vendor

White Robe Lodge was the leading vendor at the South Island session of the National yearling sales held in Christchurch on Friday (21/4/2017) with an average of $19,500 for 12 lots and a top price of $40,000.

WRL sire Raise The Flag was the leading sire on average for the sale with three or more lots. Six by Raise The Flag sold for an average of $19,833.

"It was a good sale for White Robe Lobe Lodge and the best bench of international buyers I have seen at a South Island sale for a long time,'' said Karen Stewart, the co-manager of the WRL stud operation. "It was clear there was a very big demand for staying - bred horses."

Demand for the WRL product was reflected in sales to  Australia, Hong Kong, Malaysia and New Zealand.

Phill Cataldo Bloodstock, Paraparaumu, paid $40,000 for a Raise The Flag - Flyby colt. The colt was bought on behalf of Raymond and Mark Connors, of Whanganui who have had success with Blood Brotha, Our Jonty, King Johny and Hypnotize from this family. Flyby is a sister to Wellington Cup and dual NZ Cup winner Blood Brotha and  a three quarter sister to Notable, dam of the listed 2017 Tasmanian Oaks winner, Parthesia (by Raise The Flag).

Darren Weir, the trainer of Parthesia and Unfurl (by Raise The Flag), paid $28,000 for a Raise The Flag - Upclosenpersonal colt and the same price for a Nadeem- Zenno Queen filly in the WRL draft.

Galadi, who race Parthesia  bought a Raise The Flag - Swelter colt for $9000.

Ric Wylie Bloodstock, acting for a Hong Kong buyer, paid $22,000 for a Raise The Flag - Stage Flash colt. Stage Flash is the dam of listed race winner Cherry Creek and granddam of Coulee (group three White Robe Lodge Handicap and South Island Thoroughbred Stakes twice).

Wingatui trainer Terry Kennedy, acting for Kevin Jones, of Mosgiel,  paid $22,000 for a Gallant Guru - Blessed Thee filly,

Parr Bloodstock, of Ashburton bought a colt by Gallant Guru from Elite Street (Invercargill Cup) for $15,000. Eric Parr races Fascinate (six wins and stakes placed) with Brian and Lorraine Anderton.

Michael Pitman, the leading South Island trainer this season with his son, Matthew,  paid $30,000 for a colt by Highly Recommended from Swapping.

"I bought him for the Penang Turf Club syndicate managed by Dato Teh Choon Beng(a former top trainer). I will take a third share and he(the colt) has gone to Danny Frye to be broken in,'' said Michael Pitman. "The syndicate bought a Gallant Guru - Lurk colt (Pulau Pinang) at  the sale last year. He is just taking time."

Other WRL sales were:

c Raise The Flag - Woodini   $9000 M and G Old, Matamata.

c Zacinto - Nancy Wake    $10,000 Ellerton - Zahra Racing, Victoria.

f Ferlax  - No Lane Bridge     $9000 Brian and Lorraine Anderton, North Taieri. 

c Raise The Flag  - Renee Maree    $9000 Neill Ridley, Christchurch.

A colt by Raise The Flag - Star Of Mulwala was passed in. He had a reserve of $10,000.