Drakenstein Stud’s increasingly successful sire Duke Of Marmalade, whose progeny continue to fare well on the track, has also made headlines as a broodmare sire this year.

Not only is the five time G1 winner and Cartier Champion damsire of once beaten 2018 G3 Prestige Stakes winner Antonia De Vega but his G3 Give Thanks Stakes winning daughter Venus De Milo was responsible for a colt (by Camelot) who made €400 000 at the 2018 Arqana Yearling Sale.

Duke Of Marmalade also made news as a broodmare sire on Wednesday when his daughter Velvet Ribbon was responsible for the top lot sold on the first session of the 2018 Tattersalls December Foal Sale.

Velvet Ribbon’s No Nay Never filly made 80 000 to top Wednesday’s day of trading, with the filly being consigned by Voute Sales knocked down to Justin Casse.

The sire of more than 60 stakes horses the world over, Duke Of Marmalade’s top runners in 2018 include G1 Lexus Melbourne Cup runner up Marmelo, and high class fillies Santa Clara, Temple Grafin and Flower Party, with the latter placing in both the Italian Derby and Italian Oaks.

Multiple group winner Marmelo has been invited to the 2019 Dubai World Cup Carnival.

Duke Of Marmalade, whose G1 Investec Derby winning half-brother Ruler Of The World is one of the Leading First Crop Sires in Europe this year, also made headlines at the 2018 Emperors Palace Ready To Run Sale, where his son The Sandwich Man made R1 000 000 –making him the joint second lot sold at that Bloodstock South Africa auction.