Drakenstein Stud’s late stallion Duke Of Marmalade made history at Turffontein on Saturday when his champion daughter Rain In Holland ran out an impressive winner of the G2 Wilgerbosdrift SA Oaks (2450m) to claim the 2022 Wilgerbosdrift Triple Tiara in the process.
The three-year-old filly, bred and owned by Drakenstein, was all the rage for Saturday’s R750 000 classic with Rain In Holland more than living up to expectations.
A brilliant winner of the G2 Wilgerbosdrift Gauteng Fillies Guineas and G1 Wilgerbosdrift SA Fillies Classic at her two previous starts, Rain In Holland benefitted from the removal of blinkers in Saturday’s race.
Under Richard Fourie, the Sean Tarry trained filly was always travelling smoothly, and when Fourie asked the question, Rain In Holland bounded to the front and powered away to win convincingly by three-parts of a length.
The 2022 SA Oaks proved a great triumph for Drakenstein, who bred and owned both the winner and runner up Light Of The Moon, with both fillies sired by a Drakenstein Stud based stallion.
Last season’s Equus Champion 2YO Filly, Rain In Holland has now won eight of 12 starts (she is yet to be unplaced), with her previous notable wins including a courageous triumph in the 2021 G1 Thekwini Stakes.
South Africa’s latest Triple Tiara winner is out of the Aqlaam mare Imvula.
Rain In Holland is one of 48 stakes winners (seven of which are G1 winners) for late Cartier Champion, and five time G1 winner, Duke Of Marmalade. She was one of two winners at Turffontein on Saturday for Duke Of Marmalade, whose speedy daughter True To Life downed a high-class field of sprinters to land a pinnacle stakes over 1000m.
Bred by Northfields Stud, five-year-old True To Life has now won eight times with the mare’s previous victories headed by the 2021 G3 Wilgerbosdrift Tommy Hotspur Handicap and 2019 G3 Gauteng Tourism Authority Magnolia Handicap.
Duke Of Marmalade has three lots on offer at the upcoming National Yearling Sale, including a full-brother (Lot 161) to G3 Track And Ball Oaks winner Seville Orange and a half-brother (Lot 402) to G1 SA Derby winner Hero’s Honour.
Original article written by Cape Breeders Club