The Melbourne Cup is on the cards for Drakenstein stallion Duke Of Marmalade’s son Marmelo who atoned for his defeat in the 2017 Gr2 Prix Maurice de Nieuil by winning the Longchamps feature on Saturday.
Duke Of Marmalade
He had finished second, to subsequent Breeders’ Cup Turf hero Talismanic in this race last year.
The two British raiders had the race to themselves on Saturday as the Hughie Morrison-trained Marmelo plugged on gamely under Christophe Soumillon to repel the Moore-ridden Algometer, although he edged left and interfered with Algometer, prompting a stewards’ inquiry.
He kept the race and was cut to 16-1 co-favourite for the Melbourne Cup by Coral.
Marmelo won the Listed Sky Bet Grand Cup Stakes at York last month.
The dual Gr2 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 in acion
The gelded Marmelo’s previous wins had included the 2017 Gr2 Darley Prix Kergorlay.
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, who ran second in Saturday’s Irridescence Stakes.
Edward Goodwin, owner-breeder of Marmelo, said: “In all probability the Melbourne Cup is on the cards and, unlike last year, we wouldn’t run in Australia before the big day.
“We could come back to France for the Prix Kergorlay but Hughie is seriously considering the Ebor.”
