Racing: Hopes high for Emerald Firefilly

White Robe Lodge stud manager Wayne Stewart with the Raise The Flag-Emerald Fire filly who will...
White Robe Lodge stud manager Wayne Stewart with the Raise The Flag-Emerald Fire filly who will be sold at the New Zealand Bloodstock yearling sales at Karaka next week. Photo by Matt Smith.
Wayne Stewart would love for the bidding to reach boiling point for a half-sister to Inferno at the New Zealand Bloodstock select sale next week.

The White Robe Lodge stud manager and his team at the North Taieri property have six yearlings consigned for the sales, which start at Karaka on Monday.

All six yearlings are by the stud's resident sire, Raise The Flag.

Stewart, who travelled north with the yearlings with his wife, Karen, on Sunday, said the presence of three of their draft in the select sale, which starts on January 29, was a bonus for the stallion, whose first crop are 2yr-olds.

''It's good for Raise The Flag,'' he said.

''You get a lot of different buyers looking at them. Obviously, the premier [sale] guys are there earlier and they get to see the select draft. You get a lot more profile off that.''

A yearling filly by Raise The Flag out of Emerald Fire loomed as the likely sales topper for White Robe Lodge, Stewart said.

''I think she's probably as good a filly as I've taken to the sale for a long time.

''She's a lovely filly with plenty of scope and she's got the pedigree to back it up too.

''It's a great fillies' family so if someone wants to buy into a good family, it's a great opportunity.

''She's got a lot of value as a broodmare later on.''

Emerald Fire has done a fine job as a broodmare for Brian and Lorraine Anderton, leaving the winners Megagem (three wins), Ronnie (two wins), Upcloseandpersonal (four wins), Inferno (10 wins) and Ortem Fire (three wins).

A colt out of Cherry Creek is a chance of making it as a 2yr-old, Stewart said.

''He's the first foal we've taken out of her to the sales.''

Cherry Creek won eight races in 24 starts, including a win as a 2yr-old at Cromwell and the listed Canterbury Belle Stakes in September 2007.

''We sold [the yearling's] three-quarter brother last year and Allan Sharrock has got him in work now,'' he said.

''He's an earlier-running sort of a horse.''

The 2yr-old with Sharrock has won a jump-out and is expected to race in the next month or two, Stewart said.

Other 2yr-olds by Raise The Flag to grace the track are Princess Brook and Hear Me Roar, who have looked promising at an early stage.

''There's been quite a bit of talk about them, and a lot of people asking when it [the draft] is going to be arriving. The three entries in the festival sale are out of winning mares, and may well have been in the select sale if Raise The Flag was another crop or two further into his siring career.

''You've got to start and work your way up.''

 

 


White Robe Lodge
Sales draft

 

Select sale, January 29-31

Raise The Flag-Turn The Page colt
Raise The Flag-Cherry Creek colt
Raise The Flag-Emerald Fire filly

Festival sale, February 2

Raise The Flag-Renee Maree colt
Raise The Flag-Ya Ya colt
Raise The Flag-Ardent Fire filly


 

 

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