Goodbye to Marju
Derrinstown Stud has reported the death by natural causes of one of their one-time stalwarts, Marju (Last Tycoon). He was 28.
A three-parts brother to the great Salsabil, Marju showed himself to be one of the best milers of his generation when winning the Gr.1 St James’s Palace Stakes at Ascot, beating the subsequent Sussex Stakes winner, Second Set.
Marju was retired to Derrinstown at the end of his three-year-old season. He proved an instant success at his new career, siring the Gr.1 Prix Vermeille and Gr.1 Yorkshire Oaks winner My Emma, and the Gr.1 Prix de Diane winner Sil Sila from his first crop.
Further successes at the highest level followed with the likes of Soviet Song, Bethrah, Lightening Pearl and Marbye in Europe; Viva Pataca and Indigenous in Hong Kong; Chinchon in the USA and Marju Snip in Australia. In all, he was responsible for 12 Gr.1 winners of 21 Gr.1 races during his 19 years at stud, and his consistency in producing top quality runners made him a popular choice with breeders and buyers alike.
Marju may have gone, but his influence as a broodmare sire is still being felt on the racecourses of Europe today, epitomised by the recent Gr.1 Prix de l’Abbaye winner, Marsha.
