Group 1-winning racehorse and sire Duke Of Marmalade dies aged 17

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 two for Aidan O'Brien and Coolmore before finishing a narrow second in the Vintage Stakes at Goodwood.

Fourth in the English and Irish 2,000 Guineas before a neck second to Excellent Art in the St James's Palace Stakes, Duke Of Marmalade was also fourth in the Juddmonte International, second in the Irish Champion Stakes and third in the QEII in his three-year-old campaign.

He subsequently flourished as a four-year-old, with victory in the Prix Ganay being followed by wins in the Tattersalls Gold Cup, Prince of Wales's Stakes, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes and the Juddmonte International.

He was seventh to Zarkava in the Arc and finished down the field in the Breeders' Cup Classic at Santa Anita on his swansong.

The five-time Group 1 winner was retired to stand at Coolmore's Irish base in 2009 for a fee of €40,000. He moved on to Drakenstein Stud in South Africa for the 2014 breeding season.

Among his leading progeny are St Leger and British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes heroine Simple Verse, the hugely popular Gold Cup winner Big Orange, Prix de Diane winner Star Of Seville and German Derby winner Nutan.

As a broodmare sire, Duke Of Marmalade is responsible for this season's Irish Derby second Lone Eagle, Park Hill Fillies' Stakes scorer Free Wind, dual Group 3 winner Antonia De Vega and Darley Stakes winner Lady Wannabe.

Duke Of Marmalade was out of the winning Kingmambo mare Love Me True, the dam of Derby 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."

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