Duke Of Marmalade – exciting young sire
Cape breeders and owners turned out in droves to view Drakenstein Stud’s impressive stallion line up on a glorious day last Friday.
They were treated to an unexpected bonus when South Africa’s last two Horses Of The Year, Legislate and Futura, paraded before them.
Both entires looked in fine fettle, with Legislate showing a keen appreciation for his surroundings. Both Dynasty sons look sure to give a good account of themselves this season, and trainer Justin Snaith was quick to comment they were staying in training.
Between them, the bay twosome have won 16 races (eight at Grade One level) and more than R10 million in prize money.
Duke Of Marmalade has let down superbly well since he joined the Drakenstein roster a year ago. The former Cartier Champion glided along in front of an appreciate crowd, and it seems safe to say that few, if any, sons of the great Danehill have enjoyed a better run of success over the last few months.
“The Duke” was not only the leading sire at Goodwood this year, but he has no fewer than three individual European classic winners to his credit in 2015 – including G1 Prix de Diane (French Oaks) winner Star Of Seville.
Philanthropist
The imposing Philanthropist, who himself had a weekend double these past few days, also looked in fine trim. The big son of Kris S (who hails from the same male line as South Africa’s newest champion sire Captain Al), will be represented by his first crop of two-year-olds this season. Among Philanthropist’s first crop are siblings to such high class performers as Afrikaburn, Captain Scott, Changingoftheguard, Exhilaration, Franny, Hawker Hunter, In The Fast Lane and her G1 winning half brother Let’s Rock ‘N Roll, Jeppe’s Reef and Night Trip, to name but a few.
Multiple champion sprinter What A Winter truly looked in the pink on Friday, and no doubt many buyers will be keen to acquire his first yearlings, which will be on sale in 2016. The son of triple champion sire Western Winter was one of the finest sprinters to have raced in South Africa in many a year, winning 15 races (four G1 wins) and more than R3 million in stakes. A triple Equus Award winner, What A Winter hails from the same family as the breeding shaping stallions Hyperion, Mossborough, Pharamond, Sickle and the immortal Sir Tristram.
Perennial leading sire Trippi is always a crowd pleaser, and Friday was no exception.
The handsome son of End Sweep enjoyed a magnificent season in 2014-2015, and headed South Africa’s leading sire of 3yos list.
Trippi
The sire of such G1 stars as Afrikaburn, For The Lads, R Heat Lightning, and the brilliant Inara, Trippi is also responsible for Equus Award winning champion Hammie’s Hooker. A sire who has sired G1 performers the world over, Trippi is now shaping up as a potentially exceptional broodmare sire and is the maternal grandsire of possible Breeders Cup candidate Liam’s Map, among others.
Sadly, the farm’s latest addition Kingsbarns was still in quarantine, but this G1 winning son of Galileo has himself plenty to offer breeders in the coming season. Winner of the G1 Racing Post Trophy (a race won previously by such important stallions as Green Dancer, High Chaparral and Vaguely Noble), Kingsbarns is one of 47 individual G1 winners for his outstanding champion sire Galileo.
Galileo was in tremendous form this past weekend when the multiple champion sire had no fewer than four pattern race winners. Kingsbarns hails from an outstanding female line, with his relatives including multiple champion sire Volksraad and his very close relative and triple G1 winner Rip Van Winkle.
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