Monday 7 June 2021
SIYOUNI continued his dominant run of form on Sunday at Chantilly as St Mark’s Basilica doubled up after his Poule d’Essai des Poulains victory, storming home to secure success in the Prix du Jockey Club. Thanks to this victory, the Aga Khan Studs sire has now been propelled to the top of the European sires’ rankings on earnings for the season.
Trained by Aidan O’Brien who was winning the French Derby for the first time, St Mark’s Basilica was confidently ridden by Ioritz Mendizabal. After following the leaders, the colt hit the front a furlong and a half from home and accelerated clear of his rivals in a matter of seconds.
St Mark’s Basilica is a complete racehorse, already crowned European Champion Juvenile last year after winning the Dewhurst Stakes, he is now unbeaten at three in two French Classics. Jockey Ioritz Mendizabal believes that the colt will stay a mile and a half, while Aidan O’Brien and the Coolmore team will consider options such as the Eclipse Stakes and Champion Stakes. The trainer commented, “His qualities are that he has a lot of speed and he can quicken very well. He's a very relaxed horse, he travels well and he's kind in his races. We thought all those were qualities he would need to win the Jockey Club.”
Bred by Robert Scarborough, St Mark’s Basilica is a son of Galileo mare Cabaret, winner of the Group 3 Silver Flash Stakes and dam of 2000 Guineas scorer Magna Grecia. He was purchased as a yearling at Tattersalls by MV Magnier for 1.3 million Guineas.
St Mark’s Basilica’s Prix du Jockey Club success represents a sixth Classic for the Haras de Bonneval sire, after the same colt’s Poule d’Essai des Poulains last month, the Poule d’Essai des Pouliches of Dream And Do and Ervedya, Laurens’ victory in the Prix de Diane and Sottsass who lifted the Prix du Jockey Club in 2019 before taking the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe last October.
On Saturday at Epsom, SEA THE STARS was the sire of Derby runner-up Mojo Star. On just his third career outing and his first over a mile and a half, the Richard Hannon trained colt put up a fine performance to finish second to Adayar and he looks to have an exciting future over this distance.
Updated on 7 June 2021.
