NEWS from South Africa that Duke Of Marmalade (Danehill) has been retired from stud duties at the age of 17 is disappointing, especially for the team at Drakenstein Stud where he has been since he left Coolmore after completing his fifth season there in 2013.

The fact that his fee dropped from €40,000 to €12,500 in Ireland would indicate why he left for sunnier climes. He also shuttled to Australia.