Bush Hill’s smart sire Flying The Flag, a full brother to sensational multiple Gr1 winning fillies at the highest international levels – Rhododendron and Magical – had an impressive winner at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Sunday afternoon.
The imposing Flying The Flag gelding bred by Bruce Le Roux, a very high scorer for the National Yearling Sale and towering individual very much in the stamp of his sire, all looked just about lost over the 1400m and he showed immense grit to push through and win going away by a length under Serino Moodley.
An elated Michael Roberts and his daughter Carolyn were on course to lead him in. Hey Bill was unsold at the 2019 National Yearling Sale and sold for R60 000 to Michael Roberts at the 2019 Ready To Run Sale, consigned by Far End Pretraining as agent. The gelding, out of an Alami mare, is owned in partnership by Messrs W R Dobeyn, C T Crowe, R G Hampson & Mrs V L Roberts.
He has now had three runs for a place and a win. Michael Roberts also trains the chestnut gelding’s Crusade half sister – a lovely flashy filly, she won twice and placed on the balance of her first six starts, named Hey Delilah. They are both siblings to Black Type Just As I Said, a stakes placed 6-time winner.
Look for the full brother to Hey Delilah on the upcoming Emperors Palace National 2YO Sale, consigned as Lot 142. The dam has now produced all winners from all runners – with 15 wins between the four winners.
Flying The Flag is represented by seven 2yo’s on the sale, including a half sibling to Gr3 winner Neptunes Rain and another from the family of The Mouseketeer.
Spring Valley have 6 horses consigned to the sale by the likes of Futura, Judpot, Crusade and Mogok.
Watch Hey Bill’s amazing effort to win this race below: