Drakenstein’s beautifully bred sire Duke Of Marmalade was in the news again on Sunday when his daughter Sound Of Freedom opened her Gr1 account with a courageous win to score in the Premio Lydia Tesio at Capannelle in Italy.
Duke Of Marmalade – during his racing days
Sound Of Freedom was an unlucky neck second behind Odeliz in this race last year but went one better this time in good style.
She had run four times without success for Marco Botti in Britain during the summer but had a length and a quarter to spare in the 1800m event over French challenger Zghorta Dance, while Irish hope Laganore was a length and a half back in third.
The second and third were doing their best work in the 200m, but the winner had flown.
Laganore did not enjoy the best of runs when launching her bid from the rear around 300m out, while the runner-up came from nearly last to snatch second close home.
The winner was adding to her success in the Italian 1,000 Guineas last season.
Former Cartier Champion Duke Of Marmalade has enjoyed another superb season, with his group/graded winners in 2016 including the likes of Big Orange, Can’thelpbelieving, Diamond Made, Duchess Andorra and Simple Verse.
Jamie Spencer and Big Orange in action
His four time group winning son Big Orange currently is among the leading fancies for November’s Gr1 Emirates Melbourne Cup, while his champion Gr1 filly Simple Verse ran a cracking third behind Sheikhzayedroad in the Gr2 Qipco British Champions Long Distance Cup a week ago at Ascot.
A son of Danehill, Duke Of Marmalade has been represented by more European stakes winners this year than such top class stallions Acclamation, Cape Cross, Le Havre, New Approach, and Zoffany.
