Group One Treble for Duke of Marmalade
18th June 2008
The G1 Prince Of Wales's Stakes has been won by some outstanding horses in recent years and another star name was added to the roll of honour when Duke Of Marmalade (4h Danehill - Love Me True, by Kingmambo), a member of Danehill's final crop, cruised home four lengths clear of Phoenix Tower.
Consistent last season when competing in the top grade, Duke Of Marmalade has been an even better horse this year, winning all of three starts at G1 level - his Royal Ascot win following on from victories in the Prix Ganay at Longchamp and Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh.
"I am delighted with him. He's an unbelievable horse and, with every run, he's getting better. He's the real deal," said Duke Of Marmalade's trainer Aidan O'Brien.
"You are never confident before a race like this but the horse was training well. Johnny, who was riding him in all his work, said the horse was making good progress. When Johnny makes a statement about a horse you have to listen: he was very bullish today. He said he was going to be very positive on him."
O'Brien outlined that it hasn't been easy for the four-year-old to get to these heights, having suffered injury problems.
"He had a bad fracture after Goodwood as a two-year-old and he had pins put in his front joint and they were hurting him last year. We were never really able to train him because he was semi-lame all the time. He wasn't able to use himself the way he's using himself this year. He had that speed at two but lost it last year because of the problems but he has got it back again now. He is a very good horse."
A delighted Murtagh said: "He's up there with the best I've ridden. Aidan has been getting him ready for this all year. He's been bringing him along slowly winning Group Ones with him. Today was the horse's big target and he really came good."
A maiden winner at two, Duke Of Marmalade contested the best races last season finishing fourth in both the English and Irish Two Thousand Guineas as well as placing at G1 level behind star stablemates Dylan Thomas and Excellent Art so it's not surprising to see him emerge as top class with his soundness issues behind him.
Duke Of Marmalade is one of 86 G1 winners worldwide for the brilliant Danehill, who died prematurely in 2003. Danehill has a number of sons now on the Coolmore roster including Dylan Thomas, Danehill Dancer, Fastnet Rock, Aussie Rules, Catcher In The Rye, Holy Roman Emperor, Ivan Denisovich, Oratorio and Rock Of Gibraltar. Love Me True is from a half-sister to US Broodmare of the Year Weekend Surprise, the dam of champion racehorse and sire A.P. Indy and Group One winning sire Summer Squall.
Duke of Marmalade is one of 86 Group One winner worldwide for former champion sire Danehill, who died prematurely at Coolmore Stud in Ireland in 2003.
Danehill has a number of sons now on the Coolmore roster including Dylan Thomas, Danehill Dancer, Fastnet Rock, Aussie Rules, Catcher in the Rye, Holy Roman Emperor, Ivan Denisovich, Oratorio and Rock of Gibraltar.
