Duke of Marmalade , a top-class performer on the track and sire of group 1-winning performers such as Big Orange , Simple Verse , and Star of Seville , has died at the age of 17 at Drakenstein Stud in South Africa.
Bred by Southern Bloodstock, the son of Danehill won on his second start at 2 for Aidan O’Brien and Coolmore before finishing a narrow second in the Veuve Clicquot Vintage Stakes (G2) at Goodwood.
Fourth in the Stan James Two Thousand Guineas (G1) and Boylesports Irish Two Thousand Guineas (G1) before a neck second to Excellent Art in the St. James’s Palace Stakes (G1), Duke of Marmalade was also fourth in the Juddmonte International Stakes (G1), second in the Tattersalls Millions Irish Champion Stakes (G1) and third in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (G1) in his 3-year-old campaign.
He subsequently flourished as a 4-year-old, with victory in the Prix Ganay-Grand Prix du 40th Anniversaire Air Mauritius (G1) being followed by wins in the Tattersalls Gold Cup (G1), Prince of Wales’s Stakes (G1), King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes (G1), and the Juddmonte International.
He was seventh to Zarkava in the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (G1) and finished down the field in the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) at Santa Anita Park on his swan music.
The five-time group 1 winner was retired to face at Coolmore’s Irish base in 2009 for a payment of €40,000. He moved on to Drakenstein Stud in South Africa for the 2014 breeding season.
Amongst his main progeny are Ladbrokes St. Leger Stakes (G1) and QIPCO British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes (G1) heroine Easy Verse, the vastly widespread Gold Cup (G1) winner Huge Orange, Prix de Diane Longines (G1) winner Star of Seville, and IDEE Deutsches Derby (G1) winner Nutan .
As a broodmare sire, Duke of Marmalade is responsible for this season’s Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby (G1) second Lone Eagle , Hippo Pro3 Park Hill Stakes (G2) scorer Free Wind , dual group 3 winner Antonia de Vega , and Darley Stakes (G3) winner Lady Wannabe .
Duke of Marmalade is out of the winning Kingmambo mare Love Me True, the dam of Investec Epsom Derby (G1) hero Ruler of The World , Irish Derby third Giovanni Canaletto, and the group 3 winner and classic-placed Norway.
In a tweet, Drakenstein Stud said: “It is with deep sorrow that we announce the passing of Duke of Marmalade. He died peacefully in his paddock this morning. He was a hero to many on the racetrack, including ourselves, and a true gentleman at stud.
“His legacy will live on through his progeny to come and his already growing influence as a broodmare sire around the world. He will be sorely missed by all of us at Drakenstein Stud. He lived up to his title as a Duke in every way. RIP.”
