St Mark’s Basilica Colt Sells for 750,000 Guineas

The first Northern Hemisphere bred two year-olds by 2021 European Horse of the Year St Mark’s Basilica are set to race in Europe this year and already there are some encouraging signs with a colt by the champion son of Siyouni selling for 750,000 guineas at the Tattersalls Craven Breeze Up Sale on Tuesday.

Joey Logan’s Grangeclare Stud consigned the colt from Sea the Stars mare Layleena, who sold for 750,000 guineas to Amo Racing having been purchased by Logan for 200,000 guineas at Book 2 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale.

Bloodstock agent Jamie McCalmont, standing alongside Charles Shanahan, and Blandford Bloodstock’s Richard Brown traded the early blows before Kia Joorabchian entered the fray at 600,000 guineas and outlasted the opposition.

Alex Elliott, standing with Joorabchian in the bidders, said: “We honed in on him very early. Robson Aguiar actually rode him in the breeze, he breezed very well and carried his speed very evenly in his breeze, particularly well for a horse who is going to be seven furlongs, a mile or maybe a bit further. I do like to see an even breeze, and Robson was a huge fan of the horse.”

He added: “He was beautifully presented by Joey Logan and the word seems to be quite good on St Mark’s Basilica, his horses have breezed well here and he was an exceptional racehorse. With Al Shaqab we gave 600,000 guineas for a filly by him in Book 2 and she is doing well with Karl Burke. There are a lot of fast horses here but, for me, this horse will carry his speed a bit further and was the best of this type over the two days. He goes to Freemason to be trained by Raphael Freire, and Kia is keen to support that operation.”

The star colt is the second foal from Layaleena, a winning grand-daughter of Group III winner Bal de La Rose from the family of Group I winning sire Lope de Vega.

The first Southern Hemisphere bred yearlings by St Mark’s Basilica have sold well in Australasia this year and will race in the spring.