Duke marches on
Saturday 23rd August, 2008
Salute The Duke! O’Brien ace lands Group 1 five-timer. Picture: Steven Cargill
DUKE of Marmalade, the outstanding horse in Europe in 2008, continued his domination of the top middle-distance races with a thrilling victory in this afternoon’s Juddmonte International Stakes.
Billed as the race of the season, it saw the eagerly awaited contest between the Aidan O’Brien-trained Duke of Marmalade and this year’s Derby hero New Approach.
The race was all everyone could have wanted with the 4/6 favourite Duke of Marmalade having to battle hard to secure his fifth successive Group 1.
Kept on the heels of his pacemaker, Red Rock Canyon, the son of Danehill was always travelling strongly under jockey Johnny Murtagh.
He took up the running over 2f out and when challenged by the second, Phoenix Tower, he showed the courage of champions to find more and run out the winner by three-quarters of a length.
O’Brien said: “This is one of the all-time greats, and if horses are made of stone or concrete then the Duke is made of something harder. His constitution is simply amazing, and he has everything; speed, class, a fabulous temperament and a remarkable will-to-win.
“The Duke is so solid mentally as well as physically. We will consider the Irish Champion Stakes.”
Connections of the second, Phoenix Tower, will take heart from the fact that the four-year-old reduced the gap from four lengths in the Prince of Wales’ Stakes to just three-quarters of a length between him and Duke of Marmalade. It was his fourth second in a Group 1 race this season and they remain hopeful that one day his day will come.
Trainer Henry Cecil said: “I’m very pleased with him. It was a wonderful run and he’s improving but the other horse just got the better of him up the hill.”
Derby winner New Approach hindered his chances by pulling too hard in the first part of the race but still managed to finish strongly..
Trainer Jim Bolger said: “Beaten but definitely not battered. He’s run a good race. I would imagine that you will see a different horse in a couple of weeks in the Irish Champion Stakes.”
By Jackie Jarvis