Classic Winner St Mark’s Basilica Retired to Coolmore

[Wandering Eyes]

Five-time Group 1 winner St Mark's Basilica (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}–Cabaret {Ire}, by Galileo {Ire}) has been retired from racing and will stand at Coolmore Stud in Ireland in 2022. A fee will be announced later.

Bred by Bob Scarborough in France, the Norelands Stud-consigned bay brought 1.3 million guineas from MV Magnier during Book 1 of the 2019 Tattersalls October Yearling Sale. Trained by Aidan O'Brien for Derrick Smith, Mrs. John Magnier and Michael Tabor, the half-brother to two-time Group 1 winner, G1 2000 Guineas hero and young Coolmore sire Magna Grecia (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) won the G1 Dewhurst S. and was third in the G1 National S. as a juvenile.

Undefeated in a four-start 3-year-old campaign, St Mark's Basilica won the G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains (French 2000 Guineas) at ParisLongchamp in May, before a score in the G1 Prix du Jockey Club in June. In the G1 Eclipse S. at Sandown, the colt defeated his elders in multiple Group 1 winners Addeybb (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}) and Mishriff (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}) in July. Making his final racecourse appearance in Leopardstown's Sept. 11 G1 Irish Champion S., St Mark's Basilica bested Breeders' Cup winner Tarnawa (Ire) (Shamardal), as well as G1 2000 Guineas hero Poetic Flare (Ire) (Dawn Approach {Ire}). He retires with a mark of 9-6-1-1 and $2,965,423 in earnings.

“He's the most exciting prospect we've retired from Ballydoyle since his late grandfather Galileo,” said Coolmore's David O'Loughlin of the son of G3 Silver Flash S. heroine Cabaret. “European Champion 2-Year-old, the highest-rated 3-year-old in the world, a 1,300,000-guineas yearling by a top sire in Siyouni, a half-brother to another brilliant horse in Magna Grecia, both out of Galileo's group-winning 2-year-old Cabaret. He has everything and he'll get terrific support from his owners' broodmare band too.”

“St Mark's Basilica is possibly the best horse we have ever had in Ballydoyle,” added trainer Aidan O'Brien. “He relaxes and quickens and has all the determination from Galileo and all the speed from Siyouni.”

Cabaret is a half-sister to Group 3 winner Drumfire (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}) and stakes winner and group placed Ho Choi (GB) (Pivotal {GB}). Farther back in the female family is GI Hollywood Turf Cup S. winner Frenchpark (GB) (Fools Holme) and G1 Prix Vermeille victress Pearly Shells (GB) (Efisio {GB}).

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