Drakenstein Stud’s increasingly successful resident sire Duke Of Marmalade could be in for a major international boost, following the announcement of the nominations for the 2018 G1 Lexus Melbourne Cup.

Not only does Duke Of Marmalade have two potential runners in the race which stops a nation, but his half-brother also features among the early nominees.
Belgravia, a full-brother to 2013 G1 Investec Derby hero Ruler Of The World and half-brother to Duke Of Marmalade, has been nominated to the Melbourne Cup for trainer Liam Howley. The four-year-old son of Galileo is one of eight winners produced by winning Kingmambo mare Love Me True, who ran third in the G3 Killavullan Stakes.
Duke Of Marmalade could also be doubly represented in this year’s Melbourne Cup as a sire. His offspring Domed and Marmelo have both been entered for the race which will be run for a prize of AUS$7.3 million in 2018.
The five-year-old Domed, who is trained by John Thompson, is relatively lightly raced and has won or placed in nine of her starts so far.
She also holds an entry for the 2018 G1 Stella Artois Caulfield Cup.
Her paternal half-brother Marmelo, who was unplaced in the 2017 Melbourne Cup, is a proven high class galloper who finished second, last time out, in the G2 Darley Prix Kergolay (a race he won in 2017). The entire, who has earned nearly £500 000 in earnings, has won five, with Marmelo’s four pattern race victories including the 2018 Prix Maurice de Nieuil, and the 2016 G3 Prix de Barbeville.
Another son of former Cartier Champion Duke Of Marmlade, G1 Gold Cup winner Big Orange, ran a close up fifth in the 2015 G1 Melbourne Cup.
The sire of more than 60 stakes horses the world over, Duke Of Marmalade’s first South African crop made a pleasing impression last season and included Cape Champion 2yo filly Temple Grafin.