Noble Tune, Duke Of Marmalade and Canford Cliffs have made news recently internationally.
Noble Tune’s Curlin half-sister was the third highest sold Lot at Session 1 of this weeks Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale. The half-sister to Gr1 winner Honor Code, Noble Tune (Gr2 winner and Gr1 2nd place in the Breeders Cup) and Black Type Declarationofpeace, she sold to Meadow Oak Racing Stables for $600 000.
Noble Tune’s progeny are enjoying further trips and his three year olds are winning across the country. Noble Tune earned his first Black Type on the weekend with the grey White Lightning – placing third in the KZN Guineas Trial Listed, he is an impressive individual who has won and placed three times from four starts – two of them very close seconds.
White Lightning by Noble Tune gave his sire Black Type on the weekend. Image: Candiese Marnewick
Drakenstein’s Duke Of Marmalade has been impressing in South Africa and his momentum continued with a second place in the famed Gr1 Melbourne Cup with Marmelo, who finished just a length off winner Cross Counter over the 3200m at Flemington.
The race was not without controversy, and his jockey Hugh Bowman has been suspended for a month for his ride on Marmelo – amongst the charges were careless riding and weighing in 1kg over his allotted weight. Marmelo has amongst his numerous Black Type record won two French Gr2’s.
Duke Of Marmalade has already got off to great start in South Africa, as his daughter Temple Grafin became his first juvenile to win a Group race when she stormed to victory at Greyville in the Gr3 Debutante – she has since followed up with a flying second in the Gr2 Western Cape Fillies Championship for trainer Glen Kotzen and owners Chrigor Stud.
Marmelo by Duke Of Marmalade, finished 2nd in the Gr1 Melbourne Cup.
Another to keep track of is the Varsfontein-bred Duke Of Spin – a handsome chestnut who has won his last two starts for trainer Duncan Howells and owner David MacLean.
Canford Cliffs (featured image) is enjoying great success in Australia recently, with Gr2 winner Cliff’s Edge and Gr3 winner Princess Posh over the last month.
Princess Posh has come back since her Gr3 Tibbie Stakes win over 1400m to place in the Gr3 Tesio Stakes in Australia and Gr2 VRC Hong Kong Jockey Club Stakes over 1400m. Canford Cliffs has an impressive lifetime winners to runners percentage of 55%, and stands for a fee of R30 000 at Highlands Stud (Part of Ridgemont).
Voted Champion Older Male in 2011, he is a five-time Gr1 winner.
