Raise The Flag tops $2million in Australia

By Jonny Turner

There is simply no stopping Raise The Flag's form in Australia.

The White Robe Lodge sire's brilliant season in Australia continued in May with his tiny batch of 24 runners cracking A$2,000,000 in stakes.

Recent wins by Flying Agent, Paddy Mac and Flag Edition has taken the son of Sadler's Wells to the milestone figure.

Raise The Flag's Australian stats now stand at 27 wins from 24 runners for a total of A$2,004,167 in earnings.

Flying Agent impressed on one of Australia's biggest jumping stages when winning on Australian Hurdle and Steeplechase day at Sandown on May 24.

The son of Raise The Flag and Personal Escort mare, Nancy Wake, took out a A$40,000 hurdle event over 3400m for husband and wife duo of trainer Amy McDonald and rider Lee Horner.

McDonald said in a recent interview with Loveracing that Flying Agent has a big future over fences.

"He (Flying Agent) is a really progressive horse and I think he should adapt well to the bigger fences."

"So, I think he will be very competitive when he gets to a maiden steeplechase."

"The Raise the Flags seem to be natural jumpers as they are really good athletes, very good stayers and just exceptional at jumping."

McDonald is such a fan of Raise The Flag she and Horner have sent mares to the stallion.

"Because we love the breed so much, we actually bought a couple of broodmares in New Zealand and have sent them to Raise The Flag."

"We might breed a Grand National winner or a Melbourne Cup winner, we're just not sure yet."

McDonald purchased another Raise The flag galloper Tony Two Chips out of the White Robe Lodge training arm, earlier this year.

McDonald also purchased a Ghibellines colt from the White Robe Lodge draft at the Karaka yearling sales.

"I went to Karaka on behalf of an owner and bought two yearlings there," she said.

"They came back and have been broken in although they are out in the paddock at the moment.

"We will take them along slowly as the whole aim is to get these young staying horses to grow out and take your time with them."

Paddy Mac made it two wins from two Australian starts to add to Raise The Flag's A$2,000,000 milestone, last month.

The 4yr-old son of Personal Escort mare, Slip Out Of Satin, impressed when showing toughness to win at Geelong on May 15.

Barrier 12 and his massive 62.5kg topweight were not enough to stop Paddy Mac from scoring over 1525m for trainer Simon Wilde.

Who Shot Thebarman's little (half) sister, Flag Edition, has also kept Raise The Flag's incredible Australian form going.

The 5yr-old, from Carolingian mare, Ears Carol, made it win four from start 10 for trainer Michelle Payne when winning at Ballarat on May 31.