York glory for Duke Of Marmalade | Cape Breeders Club

York glory for Duke Of Marmalade

17th Jun 2018

Drakenstein Stud’s exciting stallion Duke Of Marmalade enjoyed more notable feature race success when his son Marmelo captured the Listed Sky Bet Grand Cup Stakes at York on Saturday.

The Group Two-winning five-year-old was a pleasing runner-up on his comeback in May and made no mistake in a course-record time over a mile and three-quarters.

Marmelo

 

Frankie Dettori was keen to seize the initiative aboard Weekender, who was still in front two furlongs from home. Marmelo was nonetheless on top at the line and was good value for his neck triumph under Ryan Moore. Moore said: “He’s a big boy and it was probably quick enough for him.”

Winning trainer Hughie Morrison said: “He’s won despite the ground, I think. He’d prefer more cut but that’s two course records he’s got now – he’s also got one at Chantilly. We’ll go back to France next for the race he won last year (Prix Kergorlay) and then go back to Australia – he is part-owned by Australians.”

Duke Of Marmalade champion Simple Verse


Marmelo, now a four time winner, had been runner up to the outstanding Vazirabad when second in the G2 Prix Vicomtesse Vigier last time out (he was beaten a neck by the winner who has banked over £2 million in prize money and who goes for the G1 Gold Cup this week).

The gelded Marmelo’s previous wins had included the 2017 G2 Darley Prix Kergorlay and he had also finished second, to subsequent Breeders’ Cup Turf hero Talismanic, in the G2 Prix Maurice de Nieuil last year.

His Cartier Champion sire Duke Of Marmalade, also sire of recent Italian Oaks runner up Flower Party, has made a pleasing start with his first South African 2yos this season including the promising Kenilworth Fillies Nursery runner up Santa Clara.

The son of Danehill has two well related lots on the 2018 KZN Yearling Sale –a colt out of a stakes placed daughter of Dynasty (Lot 102), and a filly whose winning Fort Wood sired dam is an own sister to SA Fillies Classic winner Cover Look (Lot 186).

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