'Superb physical' Flag Of Honour recruited to Ballycurragh Stud's roster

Galileo's Irish St Leger winner Flag Of Honour is on the move from the National Stud and will take up stallion duties at Ballycurragh Stud in County Carlow for the 2023 breeding season.

Having stood at the National Stud since his retirement from racing in 2020, the seven-year-old had his first foals born last year.

Bred by Barronstown Stud, Flag Of Honour was sent into training with Aidan O'Brien by the Coolmore partners.

He won his second start as a two-year-old over seven furlongs by four and a half lengths, and then finished fifth in Newmarket's Group 3 Autumn Stakes to subsequent world champion Ghaiyyath. He followed that by winning the Group 3 Eyrefield Stakes at Leopardstown.

He was a close third in the Group 3 Prix Noailles at Longchamp on his seasonal reappearance at three, while his first win that year came in the summer in the Group 2 Curragh Cup.

Flag Of Honour then added the Group 3 Irish St Leger Trial to his haul before his showpiece success in the Group 1 Irish St Leger, in which he defeated Irish Derby hero Latrobe by two and three-quarter lengths.

Flag Of Honour on the way to victory in the Irish St Leger in 2018Credit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

At four he finished runner-up to stablemate and brilliant mare Magical three times, including in the Group 1 Tattersalls Gold Cup.

Flag Of Honour is out of the Warning mare Hawala and is therefore a full-brother to the winning Flat performer and hurdler Galilean, while he is also a half-sibling to numerous winners, including Group 3 scorer and Group 1 Phoenix Stakes second Air Chief Marshal and stakes winners Slip Dance and Misu Bond.

He retired to the National Stud in 2020 for an opening fee of £4,500, before standing at £3,000 and £2,500 in the last two seasons.

Willie Murphy of Ballycurragh Stud said of their new recruit: "We are delighted to have Flag Of Honour joining our stallion roster. He will be a great option for Irish breeders as a Group-winning two-year-old and Classic-winning three-year-old.

"He is a superb physical with a great walk and from a fantastic family. We have seen quite a few of his yearlings and they look very nice quality types.”

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