€520,000 Colt Leads High Demand For St Mark’s Basilica At Arqana

The second crop of yearlings by the in-form St Mark’s Basilica proved highly popular on the opening day of the Arqana August Yearling Sale.

Haras de Beaufay’s half-brother to Group 2 Coventry Stakes winner and dual Group 1-placed juvenile Rashabar (by Holy Roman Emperor) was just the 13th lot into the ring on Saturday but made quite the impact when making €520,000 to MV Magnier and White Birch Farm.

Magnier said: “He’s a nice horse and Sam Sangster and Brian Meehan bought his half-brother here a couple of years ago and he was a good horse, as we all know.

“St Mark’s has had an incredible last couple of weeks. He’s going really well and had another winner there a few minutes ago in England. We’re fully behind the horse. Aidan is racing a lot of them but there’s still a lot to come. The filly we bought here looks like she could be pretty good.”

Just three lots later, Haras de l'Hotellerie’s colt out of a Dubawi half-sister to Group 1 Middle Park Stakes winner Charming Thought sold to Ecuries Andre Coo for €125,000.

The momentum for the progeny of the European champion two-year-old and world champion three-year-old continued later on in the session.

Hurworth Bloodstock bought Fairway Consignment’s granddaughter of Listed Cheshire Oaks scorer and Epsom Oaks runner-up Wonder Of Wonders. The February-born yearling hails from the further family of Urban Sea, Galileo and Sea The Stars.

Another highlight for St Mark’s Basilica was the €230,000 sale of Haras de la Perelle’s well-related colt to Jamie McCalmont. Out of the Group 3-placed Showcasing mare Endless Joy, the colt’s page includes this year’s Group 2 Sandy Lane Stakes scorer Symbol Of Honour.

Five further lots by St Mark's Basilica are due to sell at Arqana later today.