Ming Zhi Cosmos wins in style
Drakenstein stallion Duke Of Marmalade sired yet another international stakes winner this past weekend when his French-bred daughter Ming Zhi Cosmos won the Listed Premio Pietro Bessero at San Siro in Milan on Sunday.
Following hot on the heels of the Duke’s son Big Orange’s victory in the 2700m Betdaq Colossus Listed Chester Stakes in the UK the previous weekend, Ming Zhi Cosmos proved herself to be a progressive filly when registering her second stakes win in style.
Ridden by jockey Umberto Rispoli, who impressed in jockey challenges in Mauritius and this country in recent years, she stayed on well to beat the Whipper filly, Waikika, by a neck in the mile event.
The winner was scoring her second stakes win after winning the Listed Premio Nogara at the same track over 1400m in June.
The 3yo filly was purchased by her trainer Clement Nicholas for $95 057 at the 2012 Deauville Yearling Sale and is out of the Ganges mare, The Wise Lady.
In a deal brokered by Blandford Bloodstock earlier this year, Duke Of Marmalade was purchased from Coolmore to stand at Drakenstein Stud.
He is a half brother to Investec Epsom Derby hero Ruler Of The World and hails from a top class family of sires that includes champion sire AP Indy, Summer Squall, Al Mufti and Lemon Drop Kid, who have all sprung from the foundation mare Lassie Dear, herself a profound influence on South African breeding.
A top class son of great champion sire Danehill, a five time Group 1 winner, was last year’s leading European Second Crop sire of stakes winners outperforming the likes of New Approach, Henrythenavigator and Raven’s Pass.
There are exciting days ahead!
