Drakenstein Stud’s resident sire Duke Of Marmalade went very close to landing one of the world’s biggest and most historic races on Tuesday when his son Marmelo finished a close in the Gr1 Lexus Melbourne Cup.
Cross Counter ridden by jockey Kerrin McEvoy wins the 2018 Melbourne Cup – beating Duke Of Marmalade’s son, Marmelo (Pic – Melbourne Cup)
But it was Teofilo son Cross Counter who made history by becoming the first British-trained racehorse to win the Melbourne Cup.
Charlie Appleby saddled the 8-1 winner, ridden by Kerrin McEvoy, in the 158th running of Australia’s famous race.
Godolpin trainer, Charlie Appleby (left)
Cross Counter led home a 1-2-3 for British-trained runners from Marmelo and A Prince Of Arran.
Cross Counter is owned by Sheikh Mohammed’s Godolphin team, which also won the Derby at Epsom for the first time this year with the Appleby-trained Masar.
The runner-up, the five-year-old entire Marmelo hit the front with 200m left to run and looked to be in with a winning chance but was caught close to home b Cross Counter.
Ironically, Cross Counter is out of a mare by Kingmambo – the broodmare sire of Duke Of Marmalade.
Among those beaten by Marmelo in the 2018 Melbourne Cup were Gr1 winners Youngstar, Best Solution, Ventura Storm, and Ace High.
Marmelo, beaten just a length in Tuesday’s $7.05 million contest, has now earned in excess of £1 000 000 in stakes money, with his five victories including four group or listed races.
Trainer Hughie Morrison was delighted with the run, saying, “Great ride. Great horse. He came virtually from last to nearly first. He came through beautifully, chased down the leading horse (A Prince Of Arran) and then just got run down. It’s fantastic to be second in the Melbourne Cup. But to be second when you’re nearly there…but great credit to Charlie (Appleby). I always thought he was the horse to worry about. A (northern hemisphere) three-year-old. Marmelo has run his heart out.”
Duke Of Marmalade
Damsire of 2018 group winners Chilean and Antonia De Vega, Duke Of Marmalade is currently responsible for 37 stakes winners, and a total of more than 60 black type performers in total.
A half-brother to Coolmore’s promising Investec Derby winning sire Ruler Of The World, former Cartier Champion Duke Of Marmalade also made news at Sunday’s Emperors Palace Ready To Run Sale, where his son The Sandwich Man was knocked down to Fortune Racing for R1 000 000.
The five time Gr1 winner has four lots on offer at this month’s CTS Ready To Run Sale.
