Drakenstein Stud’s resident stallion, and Cartier Champion, Duke Of Marmalade enjoyed a memorable stint over the weekend.
Not only was the five time G1 winning son of Danehill represented by a pair of eye catching two-year-olds in South Africa, but a Duke Of Marmalade filled the runner up berth in Sunday’s classic G2 Oaks D’Italia (the Italian Oaks).

Duke Of Marmalade filly Flower Party ran a tremendous race to finish just a neck back in second in Sunday’s Oaks, with the chestnut filly having previously finished third in the G2 Derby Italiano.  Ridden by Dario Vargiu, Flower Party stayed on gamely to get within a neck of the victorious Sand Zabeel.

Flower Party, a winner of four of six outings, was produced by Jubilant Lady, whose sire Aptitude is a son of Duke Of Marmalade’s close relative A P Indy.

She is one of a number of high class daughters sired by Duke Of Marmalade, whose previous top class fillies include champions Simple Verse and Sound Of Freedom, as well as French Oaks heroine Star Of Seville and dual Oaks runner up Venus De Milo.

Duke Of Marmlade also looks to have a very smart local filly in the form of Santa Clara, who ran on powerfully for second place in the Listed Kenilworth Fillies Nursery on Saturday. Bred by Maine Chance Farms, Santa Clara looks a potential graded filly in the making.

Her sire was represented by a fourth winner from his first South African bred and born crop when 2yo son Go Ballistic romped to a 1.75 length maiden win, over older rivals over 1600m, at Turffontein on Sunday. Bred by Drakenstein Stud, the gelded Go Ballistic, who was produced by the Sadler’s Wells mare Buffalo Dance, is bred on the same Duke Of Marmalade/Sadler’s Wells cross as English classic winner and champion Simple Verse.

Duke Of Marmalade, who hails from the same family as Saturday’s G1 Runhappy Metropolitan Handicap hero Bee Jersey, has currently a total of 60 stakes horses to his name.

Judging by recent results, this total looks sure to grow considerably in coming months!