He appears to have been a temperamental colt who wore blinkers and was usually accompanied to the start by his stable lad, who held onto his head until the last moment.
[2] He started favourite for The Derby and led for most of the way before being overtaken in the closing stages and beaten a neck by the outsider Caractacus.
His jockey, Tom Ashmall, who had ridden the colt to victory in the Guineas, was criticised for going to the front too soon.
Throughout the closing stages he was strongly challenged by the favourite Buckstone, and looked beaten at one point before rallying in the final strides to win by a head.
[4] As a four-year-old, The Marquis was sold to Russian interests[5] but spent most of his stud career in Australia.