By Tom Frary
Coming off a third in the Hungerford, Marvelman (Invincible Spirit) turned Saturday's G2 Park Stakes at Doncaster into a procession to provide more big-race success for the Andrew Balding stable in 2025. Always travelling easily on the rain-deadened ground under Oisin Murphy, the 13-2 shot took command two out en route to a 3 3/4-length success from King's Gamble (Kingman).
“He's really found his spark of late and was impressive today,” Balding said of the three-year-old, whose latest effort behind More Thunder at Newbury was already a marked step up on two Listed placings earlier this term. “He's generally very consistent and never disappoints, apart from when we really fancied him in the Jersey at Royal Ascot–his owners came over from Australia to watch him that day, too! He's run some good races on fast ground, but he's handled that bit of cut very well today. We'll probably head to the Challenge Stakes at Newmarket with a penalty.”
Murphy added, “His work has gone to a new level in recent weeks since Newbury and we thought he'd be fine on that ground. We went a nice even pace, not flat to the boards like Quinault sometimes can do, as this ground can be tiring and I realised early it might take a bit of getting, but he powered clear for pressure.”
Pedigree Notes
Marvelman is the second foal out of Varamini (Siyouni), a full-sister to the G2 Prix de Sandringham winner Volta who was also placed in the Prix Rothschild and Prix de Diane. She is also a half to the G3 Prix des Chenes and G3 Prix de Guiche winner and Dubai Sheema Classic-placed Calvados Blues (Lando) and to the dams of the G3 Prix Greffulhe winner Wootton Verni (Wootton Bassett) and the Listed Star Appeal Stakes winner No Needs Never (No Nay Never). Her filly foal is by Ghaiyyath.
Saturday, Doncaster, Britain
BETFRED PARK STAKES-G2, £140,000, Doncaster, 9-13, 3yo/up, 7f 6yT, 1:24.72, sf.
1–MARVELMAN (IRE), 128, c, 3, by Invincible Spirit (Ire)
1st Dam: Varamini (Fr), by Siyouni (Fr)
2nd Dam: Persian Belle (GB), by Machiavellian
3rd Dam: Nicola Bella (Ire), by Sadler's Wells
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN, 1ST GROUP WIN. (140,000gns Ylg '23
TATOCT). O-Mr & Mrs R M Gorell; B-Gigginstown House Stud;
T-Andrew Balding; J-Oisin Murphy. £79,394. Lifetime Record:
9-2-3-2, $171,593. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the
eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the
free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–King's Gamble (Ire), 132, c, 4, Kingman (GB)–Zondaq, by
Bernardini. (190,000gns Ylg '22 TATOCT). O-Clipper;
B-Centerville Bloodstock; T-Ralph Beckett. £30,100.
3–Audience (GB), 132, g, 6, Iffraaj (GB)–Ladyship (GB), by Oasis
Dream (GB). TDN Rising Star. O/B-Cheveley Park Stud; T-John
& Thady Gosden. £15,064.
Margins: 3 3/4, NO, 1. Odds: 6.50, 20.00, 6.00.
Also Ran: Zoum Zoum (GB), Quinault (Ger), Devil's Point (Ire), Room Service (Ire), Ten Bob Tony (Ire), Shadow Of Light (GB), East Hampton (GB), Zabeel Alkabeir (Ire).
Wow! Marvelman clears away from them to win the Group 2 Betfred Park Stakes at @DoncasterRaces!
Another for @oismurphy and @AndrewBalding2! pic.twitter.com/7si2Mab7Ko
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) September 13, 2025
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