Morning Frost has scored a belated black-type victory for Coolmore Stud sire Duke Of Marmalade in France.

The promising Christophe Ferland trained filly captured the LR Prix Ronde de Nuit at Chantilly on Thursday.  “We’ve always thought a lot of her,” said Ferland.  “She holds an entry in the French 1,000 Guineas and may we may run next in the Prix Imprudence.”

Morning Frost (3f Duke Of Marmalade – Evening Time by Keltos) was a 47,000gns Tattersalls yearling purchase and she won the Prix de Lisieux (1200m) on debut during last year’s August carnival Deauville.

Danehill’s last great son, Duke Of Marmalade reeled off Group 1 wins at Longchamp, The Curragh, Royal Ascot (2) and Newmarket in 2008 and his freshman stats were good without going overboard last year.  He sired 12 two year-old winners – without one of them advancing to black caps – and they were spread through Ireland (3), France (3), Scandinavia (2) and one each in England, Germany, Italy and Japan.

Duke Of Marmalade has been shuttling to Coolmore Australian since 2009 and was priced at $22,000 (inc gst) in 2012.  There were over 400 mares in his first three books down here.

Only a handful of his initial southern two year-olds have been seen out this season.  His Queensland based filly Navelina has her hoof on the till after a fast-finishing seconds at Doomben and Eagle Farm.

– Karl Patterson