Duke Of Marmalade retired from stallion duties at Drakenstein Stud

Duke Of Marmalade, a multiple Group 1 winner on the track for Aidan O'Brien as well as the sire of top-level stars Big Orange, Simple Verse and Star Of Seville, has been retired from stud duties at Drakenstein Stud in South Africa on veterinary advice.

The son of Danehill was bred by Southern Bloodstock and is out of the winning Kingmambo mare Love Me True, who has also produced Derby hero Ruler Of The World, Irish Derby third Giovanni Canaletto, and Group 3 winner and Classic-placed Norway.

A winner on his second start at two and a neck runner-up in the Vintage Stakes, Duke Of Marmalade was Group 1-placed on several occasions at three, including when a neck second in the St James's Palace Stakes to Excellent Art and runner-up to stablemate Dylan Thomas in the Irish Champion Stakes.

His outstanding four-year-old campaign saw him take the Prix Ganay, Tattersalls Gold Cup, Prince of Wales's Stakes, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes and Juddmonte International.

He was retired to Coolmore's Fethard base for the 2009 season, at a fee of €40,000, and remained there for five seasons until his relocation to South Africa in 2013.

Among Duke Of Marmalade's leading progeny and seven top-level winners are the Gredleys' popular Gold Cup hero Big Orange, St Leger and British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes heroine Simple Verse, German Derby winner Nutan and Prix de Diane victress Star Of Seville.

The 17-year-old has also made inroads as a broodmare sire in recent years, with his daughters producing this season's narrow Irish Derby second Lone Eagle, the impressive Park Hill Fillies' Stakes scorer Free Wind, dual Group 3 winner Antonia De Vega and Darley Stakes winner Lady Wannabe.

In a tweet, Drakenstein Stud said: "Duke of Marmalade has been retired from the breeding shed on veterinary advice.

"He will live out his days at Drakenstein Stud and watch from his paddock his ever growing influence as a broodmare sire around the world."

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