Drakenstein stallion Duke Of Marmalade celebrated yet another international stakes winner when his daughter Al Muraqabah (IRE) won the $100 000 Gr3 Qatar Oaks run over 2000m at the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club in Doha on Friday.
Duke Of Marmalade – during his racing days
The 3yo is out of the Giants Causeway mare Marina Ellen and is trained by Mohamed Jassim Ghazali.
Champion Jockey Harry Bentley, riding in the silks of Khalifa bin Sheail al-Kuwari, waited till the right moment to let Al Muraqabah challenge, as a spirited Scudding, ridden by J P Guillambert, tried hard to maintain her lead.
At the line, Al Muraqabah registered a half length victory over Scudding as Injaaz Stud’s Wayside Flower, trained by Ghazali Sr, completed the top three under Pier Convertino.
“Scudding turned out to be the pacemaker in the race, but the pace wasn’t too hot. And Al Muraqabah really prefers a nice gallop. Scudding had won the Oaks Trial, but Al Muraqabah was perhaps the better horse on the day over this distance,” Mohamed Jassim Ghazali told Gulf Times.
Bentley, who hasn’t yet dominated the season like he has in the past, was palpably pleased with the performance.
Duke Of Marmalade – looks, class and proven ability
Past Cartier Champion Duke Of Marmalade enjoyed another excellent season in 2017, highlighted by amongst others his Gr1 Gold Cup winning son Big Orange, the crack Cartier Champion Gr1 winner Simple Verse (now retired) and the Melbourne Cup candidate Marmelo, who won a pair of group races this year, including the Gr2 Darley Prix Kergorlayr.
Duke Of Marmalade, a half-brother to Investec Derby winner Ruler Of The World, has more than 50 stakes horses to his name and his offspring have earned more than $27 million in stakes.
He has 16 lots on the Cape Premier Yearling Sale which will be held at the CTICC on 20 and 21 January 2018.
