The magnificent Oratorio
Two of the Western Cape’s most popular and well performed young sires could be represented by runners in one of the world’s greatest races come November.
Both Avontuur’s Oratorio and Drakenstein’s Duke Of Marmalade have runners that have been entered for the $6.2 million Emirates Melbourne Cup.
Described as “the race which stops the nation”, the 3200m Melbourne Cup is widely regarded as the world’s greatest handicap and has been won in recent times by such champions as Makybe Diva, Saintly, Might And Power, Americain and Dunaden.
Among the 140 entries for the race are 31 international performers, including triple runner up Red Cadeaux, set to make his fifth appearance in the race, and 2015 Ascot Gold Cup winner Trip To Paris.
Other notable entries include the well fancied Japanese runner Fame Game, champion Mongolian Khan, G2 Yorkshire Cup winner Snow Sky, and the first three home in last year’s race – Protectionist, Red Cadeaux, and Who Shot Thebarman.
The Duke in racing action
Avontuur’s successful sire Oratorio, who recently paraded before an admiring crowd, could be represented by his son Gerontius in the Melbourne Cup this year. Also entered in both the Gr1 Caulfield Cup and Gr1 Metropolitan Handicap, Gerontius has won from 1400-1800, and has won or placed in seven of his 17 starts.
Oratorio’s paternal half brother Duke Of Marmalade, himself the subject of much admiration at Drakenstein Stud’s recent stallion day, could have a pair of runners in “The Cup” this year. The Duke has a pair of sons nominated in the form of recent Gr2 Princess Of Wales’s Stakes/Gr2 Goodwood Cup winner Big Orange and the multiple stakes winner Count Of Limonade.
First acceptances for the 2015 Melbourne Cup will be made on October 6th.
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