by Mike Curry
Duke of Marmalade repelled game runner-up Phoenix Tower to earn his fifth Group 1 win in as many starts this season with a three-quarter-length score in the Juddmonte International Stakes (Eng-G1) on Saturday at Newmarket.
The four-year-old Danehill colt’s victory in the 1 1/4-mile race gave trainer Aidan O’Brien his 18th Group 1 win this year as the Ballydoyle trainer pursues the world record of 25 wins at the highest level, set by Racing Hall of Fame trainer Bobby Frankel in 2003.
Saturday, however, was all about Duke of Marmalade, who made his second trip from Ireland to England for the Juddmonte International, but showed no signs of fatigue in the stretch. Originally scheduled for Tuesday at York, the Juddmonte International was rescheduled for Saturday at Newmarket after heavy rain forced the cancellation of the entire Ebor meeting at York last week.
"It was a very messy week what with his fruitless trip to York,” O’Brien told Racenews. “He left Ballydoyle at 5 a.m. last Tuesday and it was after 3 p.m. when he got back. There was a lot of hanging around, and you always worry what effect it will have, but if any horse could cope with such a schedule it is the Duke.
"We were afraid to put him on the scales for two days, worried that he might have lost too much weight, so to achieve what he has after such a manic week is a credit to the horse and to all the team at home.”
The Juddmonte International was billed as a showdown between Duke of Marmalade and Vodafone Epsom Derby (Eng-G1) winner New Approach, but Phoenix Tower proved the main threat to end Duke of Marmalade’s winning streak in the final furlong.
Duke of Marmalade willingly seized command from stablemate Red Rock Canyon with about three furlongs remaining as the overwhelming favorite under Johnny Murtagh. Phoenix Tower surged into contention to challenge in the final furlong but Duke of Marmalade battled on gamely to repel the bid and prevail in 2:01.53 on good to firm turf.
"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,” O’Brien told Racenews. “His constitution is simply amazing, and he has everything—speed, class, a fabulous temperament, and a remarkable will to win."
O’Brien said Duke of Marmalade, who won four Group 1 races in three different countries entering the Juddmonte International, could make his next start on September 6 at Leopardstown in the Tattersalls Millions Irish Champion Stakes (Ire-G1).
Phoenix Tower, who finished 2 1/2 lengths clear of New Approach, recorded his fourth Group 1 runner-up finish this season.
"It was a wonderful run and he’s an improving horse, but the other horse just got the better of him up the hill,” said Henry Cecil, who trains Phoenix Tower for owner-breeder Khalid Abdullah. "He’s done really well and improved nearly four lengths on his last run, but he’s just unlucky. He’s been second in three or four Group 1 races but his day will come."
Mike Curry is a Thoroughbred Times TODAY editor