Coolmore Australia’s shuttle sire St Mark’s Basilica (FR) is generating international momentum as his reputation continues to strengthen on both sides of the world.
A European Champion 2YO, World Champion 3YO and 2021 European Horse of the Year, the son of Siyouni retired to stud after winning five consecutive G1 races, including the French 2000 Guineas, French Derby, Eclipse Stakes and Irish Champion Stakes.
His early stud career has quickly vindicated that race record. St Mark’s Basilica is already a Classic-winning sire from his first European crop, and is currently ranked third on this season’s Great Britain Second Season Sires table. He achieved recent Royal Ascot success when 3YO colt Thesecretadversary won the G3 Jersey Stakes, and 2YO colt King Of Cloughane captured the Listed Windsor Castle Stakes.
Further black-type success arrived in June when the Andrew Balding-trained Venetian Prince landed the G2 Derby Italiano at San Siro, while his first G1 winner and undefeated 3YO filly Diamond Necklace added a third G1 to her name, taking out the French Oaks.
The stallion’s influence is also beginning to emerge in Australia with 5 winners from his first local crop so far. The unbeaten Aristopolos announced himself as his sire’s first Australian winner and has since compiled multiple Stakes victories, with Listed-placegetter West Coast leading the others. They provide an exciting glimpse of what may lie ahead as the crop turns three.
At the recent Inglis Great Southern Weanling Sale, both St Mark’s Basilica weanlings offered were sold, including a colt that realised $150,000.
St Mark’s Basilica returns to Coolmore Australia this spring for $38,500.
