27 Abr. FR. Prix Ganay. G1. Longchamp. 2.100 mts. Turf. 300.000 €
1.- DUKE OF MARMALADE (J.Murtagh)
2.- SADDEX (T.Thulliez)
3.- SAGEBURG (C.Soumillon)


The G.1 Prix Ganay was reduced to a field of six after Aidan O’Brien’s Red Rock Canyon was scratched (and the pre-declared withdrawl of Anna Pavlova) but in the end it made little difference to the yard as Duke Of Marmalade (Danehill), fought off a tough challenge to land the Longchamp spoils.

Duke Of Marmalade broke well but Group Three Prix Exbury winner Spirit One (Anabaa Blue) was insistent to get to the head of affairs. Johnny Murtagh was content to stay in behind the leader but Thierry Thulliez had to fight a hard-pulling Saddex (Sadler’s Wells) and soon found himself further down the field.

Group One Grand Prix de Paris winner Zambezi Sun (Dansili) found his position in mid-division with G.1 Vermeille and EP Taylor winner Mrs Lindsay (Theatrical) towards the rear. Lightly-campaigned Sageburg (Johannesburg) raced last of all.

Spirit One maintained a strong pace and with five furlongs left to race had extended his lead to six lengths. But Murtagh in second did not take the bait.

However with 2½ furlongs to go, just four lengths separated the field. Duke Of Marmalade had a clear view of the finish line but Olivier Peslier and Spirit One were rallying on his inside. Christophe Soumillon began his run from the rear and had Saddex on his inner with nowhere to go a furlong from home.

As Spirit One faded Murtagh drifted toward the inside rail, inadvertently giving Saddex room to get through. It looked like Saddex might head Murtagh’s mount but Duke Of Marmalade had to dig deep to win by a half-length. Sageburg was third, two lengths away, pushed hard by Spirit One just a head behind.

Neither Mrs Lindsay nor Zambezi Sun made an impact and finished fifth and sixth respectively.

Aidan O’Brien said after the race, “Duke of Marmalade had been working very well at home, and now we have something to really look forward to.

“The colt is very versatile and he showed a lot of speed this afternoon. He’s a class act and a strongly run mile will also suit. The plan now is to run him in the [G.1] Tattersalls Gold Cup at The Curragh.”

Today’s win gave O’Brien back-to-back wins in the Prix Ganay, Dylan Thomas having taken the honours last year. Duke Of Marmalade has been bridesmaid twice in Group One races (and third once). He is a rare commodity – a G.1 winning son of Danehill still racing - his place at stud is now worth so much more than it was at 4.20pm today.