Jamie Spencer and Big Orange
Drakenstein’s soaring star sire Duke Of Marmalade was in the headlines again this week with a mixed sex winning stakes double on Glorious Goodwood Ladies’ Day.
Big Orange (G2 Qatar Goodwood Cup) and Simple Verse (G3 Markel Insurance Fillies Stakes) provided their sire with his eighth and ninth stakes wins for 2015.
His previous black type winners in 2015 include G1 Deutsches Derby winner Nutan, G1 French Oaks heroine Star Of Seville and Italian 1000 Guineas heroine Sound Of Freedom.
And there may be more to come as the Duke’s Star Of Seville is set to line up in the Gr1 Qatar Nassau Stakes on Saturday.
The Michael Bell trained Big Orange made it two group race wins in a row when scoring a courageous win in the Goodwood Cup, one of the oldest and most prestigious Cup races run in Britain.
The four-year-old, who had won the G2 Princess Of Wales’s Stakes at Newmarket last time out, fought on bravely in a thrilling three horse finish to prevail by a neck over Quest For More with recent G1 Ascot Gold Cup winner Trip To Paris back in third.
Jamie Spencer – bullish about the winner
Winning jockey Jamie Spencer was impressed by his mount’s courage, saying in a post-race interview, “He’s very tough and honest and loves this ground.
Trainer Michael Bell was equally enthused about his charge’s gutsy win. Bell said of Big Orange, “He is an absolute star, this horse. He’s so genuine and is a pleasure to train. I can’t sing his praises highly enough.
“He was officially the highest-rated horse in the race so if he stayed, he could win it and Jamie gave him an absolutely masterful ride. He just got a breather into him, it was a very good ride and a very good horse. I’m thrilled.”
Now a five time winner (four of his wins coming in Group/Listed races) Big Orange looks likely to be aimed at the G1 Melbourne Cup in November.
The Duke’s second Group winner came in the form of lightly raced filly Simple Verse, who made it three wins from just six outings when saluting in the G3 Markel Insurance Fillies Stake by a length and a half.
The Ralph Beckett trained sophomore, who was winning the first Group race of her career, was well ridden by Harry Bentley who produced Simple Verse with a furlong to go. The pair kept galloping resolutely to the line with Simple Verse prevailing by a length and a half from Hidden Gold.
The Park Hill Stakes (known as the fillies St Leger) could be next for the owned filly, while a tilt at the St Leger has not been ruled out.
Bred on the potent Danehill/Sadler’s Wells cross, Simple Verse has now won three of her last four outings and looks yet another exciting prospect for her magnificent sire.
Have a peek at Ladies Day in pics.
