Duke of Marmalade
Duke of Marmalade | |
---|---|
![]() Racing colours of Susan Magnier | |
Sire | Danehill |
Grandsire | Danzig |
Dam | Love Me True |
Damsire | Kingmambo |
Sex | Stallion |
Foaled | 2004 |
Country | Ireland |
Colour | Bay |
Breeder | Southern Bloodstock |
Owner | Sue Magnier & Michael Tabor |
Trainer | Aidan O'Brien |
Record | 16: 6-4-1 |
Earnings | £1,388,453[1] |
Major wins | |
Prix Ganay (2008) Tattersalls Gold Cup (2008) Prince of Wales's Stakes (2008) King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2008) International Stakes (2008) | |
Awards | |
European Champion Older Horse (2008) | |
Last updated on November 18, 2008 |
Duke of Marmalade (foaled 12 March 2004) is a retired Irish Thoroughbred racehorse and active sire. He is best known for winning five consecutive Group One races in 2008, for which he was named European Champion Older Horse. He currently stands as a stallion for Coolmore Stud, being moved between stud farms in Ireland and Australia (a practice known as shuttling).
Duke of Marmalade won his first two races as a two-year-old in June 2006. He did not win again until the spring of his four-year-old season, almost twenty-two months later. During this winless period he was sometimes regarded as little more than a pacemaker for more celebrated stable companions such as Dylan Thomas.[2] In his final year of racing he recorded wins in the Prix Ganay, the Tattersalls Gold Cup, the Prince of Wales's Stakes, the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes and International Stakes. He was retired in October 2008 after running in the Breeders' Cup Classic.
Background
Duke of Marmalade, a bay horse who stands 16 hands high[3] and weighed 540 kg during his racing career,[4] is from the last crop of foals sired by Danehill and is out of the American-bred mare Love Me True. He was bred in Ireland by Southern Bloodstock,[5] a division of his owners' Coolmore Stud organisation.[6] Duke of Marmalade was trained throughout his career by Aidan O'Brien at Ballydoyle.[1][citation needed]
Duke of Marmalade's sire Danehill (who died in 2003) was one of the most successful stallions of the last twenty years, producing the winners of more than a thousand races, including one hundred and fifty-six at Group One/Grade I level. Among his best offspring are Dylan Thomas, Rock of Gibraltar, George Washington and North Light.[7] Love Me True is a half-sister to Shuailaan (Winter Hill Stakes), Madison's Charm (Comely Stakes) and Bite The Bullet (Sanford Stakes), and, as a grand-daughter of Lassie Dear, is closely related to Summer Squall, A. P. Indy and Lemon Drop Kid.[5]
The name "Duke of Marmalade" is derived from a title created by Henri Christophe for a member of the new Haitian nobility following the Haitian Revolution.[8] The name had previously been used by an Italian thoroughbred racehorse which won the Premio Roma in 1975 and 1976.[9]
Racing career
2006: two-year-old season
Duke of Marmalade began his career with three races in the summer of 2006. In June he made his debut in a six furlong maiden race at Leopardstown. Ridden by Seamus Heffernan and starting with odds of 11/4 (2.75-1) favourite, he was towards the back of the field in the early stages before making progress in the last two furlongs to finish second to Chanting.[10] Nine days later he reappeared in a maiden race over seven furlongs at The Curragh for which he was made 4/6 favourite (approximately 0.67-1). He "stayed on well" to record his first win, beating Supposition by a neck (approximately a quarter of a length), under Kieren Fallon.[11]
Duke of Marmalade was then moved directly into Group Two class; he was sent to England for the Vintage Stakes at Goodwood in July, where his opponents included the July Stakes winner Strategic Prince. Ridden by Michael Kinane he raced just behind the leaders before being moved forward to challenge the leaders in the straight. He made ground steadily, but was unable to reach the front and finished second, beaten by a neck by Strategic Prince.[12] Before his run at Goodwood, Duke of Marmalade had been supported in the betting for the following year's 2000 Guineas,[13] but shortly after the race he suffered a pastern injury which required surgery; as a result, he did not race again in 2006.[14]
2007: three-year-old season
In 2007 Duke of Marmalade did not record a victory in six starts. However, he was never further back than fourth and ran exclusively in Group One races. He was often part of a multiple entry by the Ballydoyle team. Instead of running in a trial race, Duke of Marmalade was sent straight to Newmarket for the 2000 Guineas. The field of twenty-four runners split into two groups, one on either side of the wide Newmarket course. Duke of Marmalade tracked the leaders of the stands side group before staying on to finish fourth to Cockney Rebel.[15] Having returned from an absence of more than nine months, the colt was expected to improve for the run,[16] but later in the same month he finished fourth again to Cockney Rebel in the Irish 2000 Guineas.[17]
At Royal Ascot, Duke of Marmalade showed improved form in the St. James's Palace Stakes. Michael Kinane tried to lead all the way on the colt-and was still in front inside the final furlong-before being caught and beaten a neck by Jamie Spencer on his stable companion Excellent Art, with another O'Brien-trained runner, Astronomer Royal in third, and Cockney Rebel in fifth.[18] Two months later, Duke of Marmalade was moved up in distance and took on older horses for the first time in the International Stakes at York. He ran up to his best form in a highly competitive race to finish fourth behind the Derby winner Authorized, Dylan Thomas and Notnowcato.[19]
Duke of Marmalade raced against his stable companion Dylan Thomas again in the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown in September. He led into the straight before being overtaken by Dylan Thomas, and although he had no chance with the winner he stayed on to take second ahead of notable winners such as Red Rocks (Breeders' Cup Turf), Maraahel (Hardwicke Stakes) and Finsceal Beo (1000 Guineas).[20] O'Brien was pleased with the run and said that Duke of Marmalade was still improving.[21] On his final start of the year he was brought back to one mile for the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes in which he led until the last quarter mile, setting a strong pace,[22] before finishing third to Ramonti and Excellent Art.[23]
During the winter it was discovered that a metal pin used to repair his previous injury had been causing the horse discomfort and was restricting his movement. The pin was removed,[24] allowing Duke of Marmalade to run free of pain as a four year old.[25]
2008: four-year-old season
Spring
As a four-year-old Duke of Marmalade had a notable run of success, winning his first five races. In all these races he was ridden by Johnny Murtagh and was usually accompanied by his pacemaker Red Rock Canyon. In April he was sent to Longchamp for the Group One Prix Ganay. He raced behind Spirit One before making his challenge in the straight and running on strongly under pressure to beat Saddex by half a length. It was his first major win, and his first win of any kind for more than twenty-one months.[26] After the race, O'Brien called Duke of Marmalade "a horse to look forward to". At the Curragh a month later, he justified odds of 1/3 (0.33-1) in the Tattersalls Gold Cup, being driven out by Murtagh[27] to beat the filly Finsceal Beo by one and a quarter lengths.[28]
Summer
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/27/Ascot-8Je6-4482.jpg/400px-Ascot-8Je6-4482.jpg)
In the Prince of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot he produced his most impressive performance to date,[original research?] taking over from Red Rock Canyon in the straight where he "stormed clear" to win by four lengths from Phoenix Tower.[29] The Guardian called it a "brilliant victory" while Murtagh described the colt as among the best he had ridden.[30]
He then stepped up to twelve furlongs for Britain's most prestigious[31] weight-for-age race, the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes, for which he was made 4/6 (0.67-1) favourite. With no three-year-old in the field, the race did not appear to be up to its usual standard,[32] and his main opponent was expected to be Youmzain[33] who had finished second in the Ascot race and Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe in 2007 and had more recently won the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud. Duke of Marmalade was settled by Murtagh in the middle of the field before being switched to the outside in the straight and overtaking Red Rock Canyon entering the final furlong. He was immediately challenged and headed by the Michael Stoute-trained Papal Bull but "rallied gamely" to regain the lead close to the finish and win by a half a length.[34] Murtagh was keen to praise the horse's speed and attitude, saying "mine has all that makes a real champion. He looked the other horse in the eye and ate ground. He has that will to win."[25]
Duke of Marmalade was then brought back in distance from twelve furlongs to ten and a half furlongs for the International Stakes. The race also attracted the Epsom Derby winner New Approach, and the meeting of the two champions was much anticipated by the press as a "clash of the titans".[35] Bad ground conditions forced the race to be abandoned, and it was rescheduled for Newmarket four days later. Duke of Marmalade took the lead three furlongs out and was driven out by Murtagh to beat Phoenix Tower by three-quarters of a length, with New Approach, who had pulled hard and failed to settle in the early stages, two and a half lengths further back in third.[36] The colt's toughness and strong constitution were singled out for praise, with the press referring to him as the "Iron Duke".[4]
O'Brien and his jockeys were later found guilty of using unfair tactics in the race and were punished by the British Horseracing Authority. While pacemakers are allowed,[37] it is considered unfair to provide additional assistance, for instance manoeuvring a horse to ensure a clear run for a stable companion.[38] O'Brien defended himself "fervently", calling the charges "fantasy...a load of nonsense."[39]
Autumn
It was expected that Duke of Marmalade would meet New Approach again in the Irish Champion Stakes in September,[40] but following heavy rain in the build-up to the race O'Brien withdrew the colt, saying "we don't want to subject him to soft ground now, with the rest of the year in mind."[41]
Duke of Marmalade did not appear again until the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp in October, for which he was made 4/1 second favourite despite O'Brien expressing concern over the soft ground.[42] He was settled on the outside, but when Murtagh attempted to have him move forward in the straight, he made no progress and finished seventh of the sixteen runners behind Zarkava. [43]
On his final start, he was sent to California for the Breeders' Cup Classic at Santa Anita. Racing on a synthetic track for the first time, he ran in third place for much of the distance and briefly headed the field turning into the straight, but faded in the closing stages to finish ninth of the twelve runners behind Raven's Pass.[44] Murtagh and O'Brien characterised the performance as typifiying "the end of a long, hard season" and Duke of Marmalade's retirement was announced immediately.[45]
Race record
Date | Race | Dist (f) | Course | Class | Prize (£K) | Odds | Runners | Placing | Margin | Time | Jockey | Trainer |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
21 June 2006 | Unicredito Dublin EBF Maiden | 6 | Leopardstown | M | 8 | 11/4 | 12 | 2 | 1.5 | 1:16.00 | Seamus Heffernan | Aidan O'Brien |
30 June 2006 | Kildare Village Maiden Stakes | 7 | The Curragh | M | 8 | 4/6 | 14 | 1 | Neck | 1:26.80 | Kieren Fallon | Aidan O'Brien |
2 August 2006 | Vintage Stakes | 7 | Wolverhampton | 2 | 39 | 11/4 | 10 | 2 | Neck | 1:26.02 | Michael Kinane | Aidan O'Brien |
5 May 2007 | 2000 Guineas | 8 | Newmarket Rowley | 1 | 211 | 14/1 | 24 | 4 | 2.25 | 1:35.28 | Michael Kinane | Aidan O'Brien |
26 May 2007 | Irish 2000 Guineas | 8 | The Curragh | 1 | 151 | 9/4 | 12 | 4 | 2.25 | 1:36.10 | Seamus Heffernan | Aidan O'Brien |
19 June 2008 | St. James's Palace Stakes | 8 | Ascot | 1 | 141 | 11/1 | 8 | 2 | Neck | 1:39.33 | Michael Kinane | Aidan O'Brien |
21 August 2007 | International Stakes | 10.5 | York | 1 | 298 | 12/1 | 7 | 4 | 4.25 | 2:11.82 | Michael Kinane | Aidan O'Brien |
8 September 2007 | Irish Champion Stakes | 10 | Leopardstown | 1 | 404 | 15/2 | 6 | 2 | 1.5 | 2:02.27 | Seamus Heffernan | Aidan O'Brien |
29 September 2007 | Queen Elizabeth II Stakes | 8 | Ascot | 1 | 123 | 13/2 | 7 | 3 | 1 | 1:42.45 | Michael Kinane | Aidan O'Brien |
27 April 2008 | Prix Ganay | 10.5 | Longchamp | 1 | 126 | 19/5 | 6 | 1 | 0.5 | 2:08.30 | Johnny Murtagh | Aidan O'Brien |
25 May 2008 | Tattersalls Gold Cup | 10.5 | The Curragh | 1 | 136 | 1/3 | 6 | 1 | 1.25 | 2:15.77 | Johnny Murtagh | Aidan O'Brien |
18 June 2008 | Prince of Wales's Stakes | 10 | Ascot | 1 | 212 | Evens | 12 | 1 | 4 | 2:05.35 | Johnny Murtagh | Aidan O'Brien |
26 July 2008 | King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes | 12 | Ascot | 1 | 482 | 4/6 | 8 | 1 | 0.5 | 2:27.91 | Johnny Murtagh | Aidan O'Brien |
23 August 2008 | International Stakes | 10 | Newmarket July | 1 | 141 | 4/6 | 9 | 1 | 0.75 | 2:01.53 | Johnny Murtagh | Aidan O'Brien |
5 October 2008 | Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe | 12 | Longchamp | 1 | 1680 | 4/1 | 16 | 7 | 4 | 2:28.80 | Johnny Murtagh | Aidan O'Brien |
25 October 2008 | Breeders' Cup Classic | 10 | Santa Anita | 1 | 1356 | 9/1 | 12 | 9 | 6.25 | 1:59.27 | Johnny Murtagh | Aidan O'Brien |
.
Assessment, honours and awards
In November 2008, Duke of Marmalade was named European Champion Older Horse at the Cartier Racing Awards.[46]
In the World Thoroughbred Racehorse Rankings for 2007, Duke of Marmalade was assessed on a mark of 120, placing him just outside the world's top thirty horses.[47] In the 2008 Rankings, he was rated the fifth best horse in the world with a mark of 127[48] Duke of Marmalade was given an end of year rating of 132 by Timeform.[when?][49] A rating of 130 or above is regarded as the mark of a real "top-notcher."[50]
Stud career
He was retired from racing at the end of 2008 and as of 2011 stands as a stallion for Coolmore Stud. He shuttles between their main base in County Tipperary, Ireland during the Northern Hemisphere breeding season and Coolmore's Australian stud farm in the Hunter Valley, New South Wales, during the Southern Hemisphere breeding season.[3] His first foals were born in 2010.[51]
Pedigree
Sire Danehill (USA) 1986 |
Danzig 1977 |
Northern Dancer | Nearctic |
---|---|---|---|
Natalma* | |||
Pas de Nom | Admiral's Voyage | ||
Petitioner | |||
Rayzana 1981 |
His Majesty | Ribot | |
Flower Bowl | |||
Spring Adieu | Buckpasser | ||
Natalma* | |||
Dam Love Me True (USA) 1998 |
Kingmambo 1990 |
Mr. Prospector | Raise A Native* |
Gold Digger | |||
Miesque | Nureyev | ||
Pasadoble | |||
Lassie's Lady 1981 |
Alydar | Raise A Native* | |
Sweet Tooth | |||
Lassie Dear | Buckpasser | ||
Gay Missile (Family: 3-l) |
- Like all of Danehill's offspring Duke of Marmalade is inbred 4x4 to the mare Natalma. This means that she occurs twice in the fourth generation of his pedigree.
- Through his dam he is also inbred 4x4 to Raise A Native.
References
- ^ a b c "Duke Of Marmalade". Racing Post. Retrieved 2011-10-21.
- ^ Marcus Armytage. "No doubting Dylan Thomas at Leopardstown". Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 2011-12-01.
- ^ a b "Stallions :: Duke Of Marmalade". Coolmore. Retrieved 2011-09-20.
- ^ a b Sue Montgomery (2008-08-24). "Iron Duke shows his mettle". The Independent. Retrieved 2011-09-20.
- ^ a b "Duke Of Marmalade". Racing Post. Retrieved 2011-09-20.
- ^ "Southern Bloodstock". Breederscup.com. Retrieved 2011-09-20.
- ^ "Danehill Stud record". Bloodstock.racingpost.com. Retrieved 2011-09-16.
- ^ Clammer, Paul; Grosberg, Michael; Porup, Jens (2008). "Dominican republic & Haiti". Lonely Planet. ISBN 1741042925.
- ^ "Duke of Marmalade Horse Pedigree". Pedigreequery.com. Retrieved 2011-12-01.
- ^ "UniCredito Dublin EBF Maiden". Racing Post. Retrieved 2011-09-20.
- ^ "Kildare Village EBF Maiden". Racing Post. Retrieved 2011-09-20.
- ^ "Vintage Stakes result". Racing Post. Retrieved 2011-09-20.
- ^ "O'Brien: 'Everything fine with the Duke'". The Independent. 2008-09-04. Retrieved 2011-09-20.
- ^ Tony O'Hehir (2007-05-26). "Duke Of Marmalade leads home defence". Racing Post. Retrieved 2011-12-02.
- ^ "2000 Guineas result". Racing Post. Retrieved 2011-09-20.
- ^ "Market confidence in Duke of Marmalade". The Independent. 2007-05-26. Retrieved 2011-09-20.
- ^ "Irish 2000 Guineas result". Racing Post. Retrieved 2011-12-02.
- ^ "St. James's Palace Stakes result". Racing Post. Retrieved 2011-09-20.
- ^ "International Stakes 2007". Racing Post. Retrieved 2011-09-20.
- ^ "Irish Champion Stakes rsult". Racing Post. Retrieved 2011-09-20.
- ^ "Dylan Thomas cruises to Champion success". RTE. 2007-09-08. Retrieved 2011-09-20.
- ^ "Impressive Ramonti takes QEII win". BBC News. 2007-09-29. Retrieved 2011-09-20.
- ^ "Queen Elizabeth II Stakes result". Racing Post. Retrieved 2011-09-20.
- ^ "Duke Of Marmalade has Prince of Wales class". The Independent. 2008-06-18. Retrieved 2011-09-20.
- ^ a b Sue Montgomery (2008-07-27). "Duke Of Marmalade is toast of Ascot". The Independent. Retrieved 2011-09-20.
- ^ "Prix Ganay result". Racing Post. Retrieved 2011-09-20.
- ^ Tony Smurthwaite (2008-05-25). "Halfway To Heaven completes Irish Guineas double". Thoroughbred Times. Retrieved 2011-09-20.
- ^ "Tattersalls Gold Cup result". Racing Post. Retrieved 2011-09-20.
- ^ "Prince of Wales's Stakes". Racing Post. Retrieved 2011-09-20.
- ^ "Duke of Marmalade strides home in style". The Guardian. Retrieved 2011-09-20.
- ^ "QIPCO British Champions Series". Britishchampionsseries.com. Retrieved 2011-09-18.
- ^ Ian McClean. "The fall of King George". Irish Independent. Retrieved 2011-09-21.
- ^ Marcus Townend (2008-07-25). "Marmalade can be the toast for O'Brien". Daily Mail. Retrieved 2011-09-21.
- ^ "King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes". Racing Post. Retrieved 2011-09-20.
- ^ "New Approach can land spoils in the clash of the titans". Evening Herald. Retrieved 2011-08-30.
- ^ "International Stakes". Racing Post. Retrieved 2011-08-30.
- ^ "Race Manual (B)". Rules.britishhorseracing.com. Retrieved 2011-09-20.
- ^ "Ballydoyle fall foul of team tactics rule". Rte.ie. 2008-09-25. Retrieved 2011-09-20.
- ^ Yates, David. "Aidan O'Brien found guilty". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 2011-09-20.
{{cite web}}
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(help) - ^ Armytage, Marcus (2008-09-05). "New Approach looking for revenge against Duke of Marmalade". Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 2011-09-20.
- ^ "RTÉ Sport: O'Brien considers Duke options". Rte.ie. 2008-09-07. Retrieved 2011-09-20.
- ^ "Rain could scupper Duke's Arc bid - The Irish Times - Fri, Oct 03, 2008". Irish Times. 2008-10-03. Retrieved 2011-09-20.
- ^ "Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe". Racing Post. Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. Retrieved 2011-09-20.
{{cite web}}
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(help) - ^ "Breeders' Cup Classic". Racing Post. Retrieved 2011-09-20.
- ^ "Henrythenavigator, Duke of Marmalade retired". Thoroughbred Times. 2008-10-26. Retrieved 2011-09-20.
- ^ Catherine Austen. "Arc heroine Zarkava is Cartier Horse of the Year - Horse & Hound". Horse & Hound. Retrieved 2011-09-20.
- ^ "The 2007 World Thoroughbred Racehorse Rankings". Horseracingintfed.com. Retrieved 2011-09-20.
- ^ "The 2008 World Thoroughbred Rankings". Horseracingintfed.com. Retrieved 2011-09-20.
- ^ "Stallions :: Duke Of Marmalade". Coolmore. 2009-09-24. Retrieved 2011-09-21.
- ^ "Timeform Display Articles". Timeform.com. Retrieved 2011-12-01.
- ^ "Duke Of Marmalade". Racing Post. Retrieved 2011-09-20.
- ^ "Bloodstock listing - Duke Of Marmalade". Bloodstock.com.au. 2004-03-12. Retrieved 2011-09-20.