Group 1 Targets For Unbeaten St Mark’s Basilica Filly After Listed Win

The unbeaten Diamond Necklace (2f St Mark’s Basilica - Prudenzia, by Dansili) continued an excellent week for her sire with victory in the Listed Ingabelle Stakes at Leopardstown on Saturday.

Trained by Aidan O’Brien, the daughter of St Mark’s Basilica was building on an impressive debut victory at the Curragh last month.

Settled in midfield under Christophe Soumillon, Diamond Necklace made a move over a furlong out and put the race to bed in the final 100 yards to win by a comfortable two-and-a-quarter lengths.

O’Brien said: “That was lovely, he gave her a lovely ride. She’s a lovely filly and she’s going to stay further. We’ll have a look at the Fillies' Mile or the Boussac with her.

“There was a good pace on. We knew at the Curragh that she was a filly who was going to want every yard of seven. He was very patient on her, it was an even gallop. I don’t think he even touched her.

“The Curragh was her first time away from home and she still won. Usually if they do that they can often be a bit different.

“She’s a filly who cost a lot of money, with a great pedigree, and her work was always very right. She’s by St Mark’s Basilica and he didn’t win his Group race until the Dewhurst, he went through the whole year.”

The filly was the second stakes winner of the week for St Mark’s Basilica, following on from Thursday’s Group 2 May Hill Stakes scorer Aylin.

The dual French Classic hero’s first crop also includes Tipperary Listed winner Thesecretadversary and the Group-placed pair Rogue Supremacy and Princess Petrol.

Diamond Necklace was bred by Ecurie des Monceaux and Skymarc Farm.