Duke of Marmalade captured his 5th group one win of the season at Newmarket on Saturday, winning the International Stakes to hand Aidan O’Brien his 18th group one title of the season.

What was pitched as a heavyweight face-off between Duke of Marmalade and Epsom Derby winner New Approach turned out to be a damp squib as Jim Bolger’s runner never looked like mounting a serious challenge for the title.

Pheonix Tower put in a good performance to take second place at the International Stakes, while New Approach finished some way off in third place.

“I’ve said before that he is very durable, very consistent and he tries for you,” winning jockey Johnnie Murtagh said after the race. “You can see the size of him and he has a great will to win, he’s just a great horse. Soft ground, fast ground it doesn’t matter he’s able to take it, he eats up every day and he loves racing. I’m a lucky jockey, it’s very easy when you are riding horses like this.”

O’Brien will be looking for his 19th group one victory at this weekend’s Champion Stakes in Ireland, before the Irish and English St Legers take center stage.