The Duke in racing action
Drakenstein Stud’s red-hot resident stallion Duke Of Marmalade was back in the news on Tuesday when his daughter Castalie made a winning debut in Australia.
The filly prevailed in a driving finish to prevail by a head over Fantastic Magic to land the spoils in a 1600m maiden at Bairnsdale.
Castalie’s sire Duke Of Marmalade has been in tremendous form this year, and has been represented by stakes winners in all over Britain, France, Germany, Italy and South Africa.
His group winners this year include the classic winners Nutan, Sound Of Freedom and French Oaks heroine Star Of Seville.
Duke Of Marmalade is also responsible for the talented and courageous gelding Big Orange, winner of the G2 Princess Of Wales’s Arqana Racing Club Stakes and G2 Qatar Goodwood Cup at his last two outings.
Trained by Michael Bell, Big Orange, who is set to run in Friday’s Gr2 Weatherbys Hamilton Lonsdale Cup at York, is regarded as a likely Melbourne Cup contender by his connections.
Duke Of Marmalade, a former Cartier Champion himself, also has a fine strike rate with his South African runners. From just five local runners to date, four have won and they include the smart sprinter Moofeed, winner of the Gr3 Tommy Hotspur Handicap over 1000m.
Represented by 20 individual black type performers in 2014, Duke Of Marmalade is living up to his spectacular pedigree in no uncertain terms.
Ruler Of The World – the Duke’s half brother
A son of the incomparable Danehill, Duke Of Marmalade is a half brother to G1 Investec Derby winner Ruler Of The World as well as this season’s high class 3yo Giovanni Canaletto, who runs today in the G2 Betway Great Voltigeur Stakes and is currently rates a leading chance for the classic St Leger next month.
This is the same family as Horse Of The Year and champion sire A P Indy, former champion sires Al Mufti and Raja Baba, as well as the highly successful sires Honor Grades, Lemon Drop Kid, Sportsworld and Tiger Ridge.
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