‘We’re delighted with how he’s going’ – Coolmore full of optimism for St Mark’s Basilica’s first crop
St Mark’s Basilica (Siyouni) had two more winners on the weekend to continue his strong start in a first season of runners in Europe, which is sparking a wave of growing excitement at Coolmore Australia that he’ll make a similar impact here.
It is five years ago this Friday that the imposing sire – who’ll be among those on show at Coolmore’s stallion parade on Sunday morning – won his maiden, scoring at his third start by 1.25 lengths at the Curragh over 1200 metres, the shortest win of his career.
But already, over the past several weeks, the northern hemisphere seven-year-old’s northern offspring have shown themselves ready to perform earlier than their father. That’s a sign encouraging all at Coolmore over his Australian prospects, even if it remains likely his progeny will excel mostly once they step up to 1400 metres and beyond.
In Britain and Ireland, St Mark’s Basilica has had eight winners from 29 runners, putting him in the top five of first season sires in both countries. He’s also had a winner, from one runner, in Japan, with the Japanese-born colt Quiet Eye taking a Hakodate maiden and placing in his other two starts.
St Mark’s Basilica’s European performers include the Listed-winning mouthful Thesecretadversary. Second in his first three outings, including by a length in Royal Ascot’s Chesham Stakes (Listed, 7f), the colt broke through at start four by taking Tipperary’s Churchill Stakes (Listed, 7.5f) by a length on August 8.
Trainer Fozzy Stack said Thesecretadversary could next go to Canada for the Summer Stakes (Gr 1, 1600m) on September 13. Success at Woodbine would not only provide St Mark’s Basilica with a fillip for the Australian stud season, but with Stack well known for trading, it wouldn’t surprise if the colt stayed in North America to further fly his sire’s flag.
St Mark’s Basilica also has an exciting daughter in Princess Petrol, who won Ascot’s British EBF Fillies’ 2YO Stakes (6f) in July before rising to black type level for a neck second in Newmarket’s Sweet Solera Stakes (Gr 3, 7f) on August 9.
Last weekend, he had Venetian Prince win a Newbury two-year-old event over 1400 metres at his second start, and Monastry score at his third outing in a two-year-old novice over the same trip at Newmarket.
An eyecatcher from day one, St Mark’s Basilica was a yearling sale headliner himself, bought for 1.3 million guineas by Coolmore’s MV Magnier, making him sixth-top lot at the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale of 2019.
Four years later he became a sale-topper as a sire, with his daughter from the blue hen Prudenzia (Dansili) – producer of two Group 1 winners among five stakes horses – fetching €1.7 million at the Arqana Deauville August Yearling Sale, also bought by Magnier.
That filly – now known as Diamond Necklace – lived up to her price tag by winning on debut at the Curragh on August 9, streaking away to score by 1.5 lengths over 1400 metres.
Trainer Aidan O’Brien was enthused over her prospects, saying she would likely contest Newmarket’s Fillies’ Mile (Gr 1, 1m) in October.
“She’s a lovely filly with a great pedigree. Her dad didn’t win a maiden for another [two] weeks so that’s St Mark’s Basilica for you. He went on to win the Dewhurst and how he improved from two to three was incredible,” O’Brien said.
O’Brien also prepared St Mark’s Basilica, who after his maiden win ran third in the Curragh’s National Stakes (Gr 1, 7f) and was never beaten again, going on a run of five straight top–tier victories that saw out his career.
In October of his two-year-old season, St Mark’s Basilica took Newmarket’s Dewhurst Stakes (Gr 1, 7f) before returning in his stellar three-year-old year to win Longchamp’s Poule d’Essai des Poulains (Gr 1, 1600m), Chantilly’s Prix du Jockey Club (Gr 1, 2100m), Sandown’s Coral-Eclipse (Gr 1, 1m 2f) and Leopardstown’s Irish Champion Stakes (Gr 1, 1m 2f).
Through his nine starts he was crowned Europe’s Champion 2YO and 3YO colt, and its Horse of the Year for 2021. He was also the joint leading 3YO male on that year’s WBR Rankings, among other honours.
The early progress of his offspring has been gleefully cheered by Coolmore Australia as St Mark’s Basilica prepares for his fourth book of mares at Jerrys Plains, standing for an unchanged $38,500 (inc GST) after an initial fee of $44,000 for his first two seasons.
“We’re delighted with how he’s going,” Coolmore’s sales and nominations manager Colm Santry told ANZ News.
“He’s had a great month or so, and it’s very encouraging to see his progeny coming out and winning before he did as a two-year-old. It’s great to see them out there early.
“He was a very good two-year-old himself, of course, but it was at 1400 metres and above that he really hit his straps. He won his maiden at 1200 metres, but he progressed to Group 1 level from 1400 and beyond.”
St Mark’s Basilica was well received, especially for a first-season European shuttler, at this year’s Australasian yearling sales.
His top lot was a $700,000 filly, bought by Coolmore Australia boss Tom Magnier from Arrowfield Stud’s draft, out of the unraced Mantra Of Life (Dubawi), whose dam and second dam were European Group winners and stakes-winner producers.
Two lots at Inglis Easter by St Mark’s Basilica fetched $650,000 and $575,000, helping him to a healthy first season yearling sales average of $181,000.
Santry said reports from stables with the stallion’s progeny had been encouraging. Again though, it’s not expected racegoers will see them at their best until they reach 1400 metres and beyond, meaning pre-Christmas two-year-old results may be thin on the ground.
“St Mark’s Basilica was a world champion three-year-old, so I really see a lot of momentum being built up for him in Europe over the next few months,” Santry said.
“He’s had a great few weeks over there, but we’d expect to see a lot of his stock winning from now, mid-summer, until the end of the year.
“He was fiercely well received at the yearling sales here, and exceeded our expectations really. We’re now getting good reports from trainers about his stock. They possibly won’t shoot the lights out as two-year-olds pre-Christmas over 1000 metres, but if his European patterning is any guide, we’re really looking forward to him in Australia with his mid-season two-year-olds and onward.
“He’s a magnificent looking animal, and we’re looking forward to parading him this weekend.”
St Mark’s Basilica covered 159 mares in his first Australian season, before books of 116 and 107 – a number set to be roughly repeated this spring, Santry said.
“The responses to him have been very good this season. He’s not full yet, but he’s been very popular,” Santry said. “He’s set to cover a very good quality book of mares this season, and if he manages to win a Group 1 in the northern hemisphere, that should give him another kick along.”
Elsewhere among Coolmore’s 15-strong stallion band, Santry reported the first crop of Home Affairs (I Am Invincible) were causing great excitement among trainers, particularly the approximately 40 two-year-olds spread across the “big four” stables of Ciaron Maher, Chris Waller, Waterhouse-Bott and Team Hayes.
“They’re talking up the Home Affairs stock big time,” Santry said. “The reports have been very strong indeed, especially from the big four.”
Home Affairs memorably topped both the Gold Coast and Easter sales this year.
His $3.2 million Gold Coast filly, sold by Coolmore to Japanese trainer Mitsu Nakauchida, has been named Lia La La, while his $3 million Easter colt, out of dual Group 1 winner Shout The Bar (Not A Single Doubt), is in work with his buyers, Waterhouse-Bott.