Hot Property - Mares in Foal to Coolmore Young Gun St Mark’s Basilica

Tara Madgwick - Thursday December 1

Just two mares in foal to 2021 European Horse of the Year St Mark’s Basilica were offered at the Tattersalls December Mares Sale this week and they sold for 1.4million guineas and 800,000 guineas highlighting the high regard in which the champion son of Siyouni is held.

Consigned by Newsells Park Stud on behalf of Philippa Cooper’s Normandie Stud dispersal, young stakes-winning Kingman mare Love is You was offered in foal to St Mark’s Basilica in her first season at stud and was snapped up by Godolphin for 1.4million guineas.

Love is You is in foal to St Mark's Basilica

Godolphin have enjoyed pasts success purchasing from Normandie Stud having secured triple Group I winner Hurricane Lane from their draft at the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale in 2018 for 200,000 guineas.

Selling for 800,000 guineas to top the first day of the December Mares Sale, Archangel Gabriel was consigned by Norris Bloodstock to dissolve the partnership of Hunscote Stud and Chris Humber.

There was keen competition on the mare, but it was Hunscote Stud’s manager Andy Lloyd who won out with a successful bid of 800,000 guineas.

Advertisement

Archangel Gabriel is in foal to St Mark's Basilica

"We were one of the partners so obviously we were paying 50p in the pound," said Lloyd.

"She is a gorgeous mare, you don't get many chances and we had one. I think she is a decent buy for us on what she has bred. She has got a good cover and the family is very active, we are very lucky to keep her.  

"Her progeny have made multiple times six figures, so we will see what St Mark's Basilica brings in March. We have no plans as yet for the spring, you don't make plans unless you've got something - now we have got her we can make a plan!” 

Archangel Gabriel is the dam of Group III winner Ville de Grace who sold at this sale for 2million guineas.

St Mark's Basilica is finishing his first Australian season for Coolmore and will stand in Ireland in 2023 at a fee of €65,000
St Mark’s Basilica is currently in Australia for Coolmore covering his first book of Southern Hemisphere mares at a fee of $44,000.

Advertisment
More Reading...
Victorian Breeders Celebrate Annual Awards Night
The 2025 Victorian Breeding Awards has once again showcased the outstanding achievements within Victoria’s thoroughbred breeding and racing industry.
Per Incanto Mare Wins $100,000 Polytrack Championship
Synthetic flyer Cosentino silenced any doubt about running out the seven furlongs with a blistering performance to claim Sunday’s $100,000 Japac Homes Polytrack Championship (1400m) at Awapuni.
Zed 9YO Wins G3 Winter Cup
Saturday’s $110,000 Group Three Winning Edge Presentations Winter Cup (1600m) at Riccarton continued an incredible ride for the connections of Chase (NZ) (Zed), who bought him for only $9,000 from Book 3 of Karaka 2018. Originally a $6,000 purchase by JD Corcoran when offered as a weanling from Valachi Downs in the 2017 National Weanling, Broodmare & Mixed Bloodstock Sale.
Sires With Winners - Sunday August 3
Here is the full list of 57 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Blue Gum Farm Welcome First Foal of the Season
Victorian nursery Blue Gum Farm announced on Monday the arrival of their first foal of the season and there is no mistaking the sire of this gorgeous filly.
Aussie Globetrotting Mare Now Calls Woodside Home
Woodside Park have released a list of their quality mares set to visit new recruit Celestial Legend this spring and one of them is Aussie bred Group II winner Nafaayes, who produced a promising 2YO winner overnight in the UK.
G1 Plans for Wexford Stable Mares
Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott have their sights set on the opening Group One of the season with a pair of talented mares, both of which appeared at the Taupo trials on Monday.
MM Yearling Sales 2026 Open for Entry
The 2026 Magic Millions Yearling Sales - from the Gold Coast in January to Perth and Tasmania in February and the Gold Coast and Adelaide in March - are ready to deliver more groundbreaking results.
One to Watch – Ballarat
Last seen contesting the Group I MRC Blue Diamond Stakes, newly gelded three year-old Olatunde bolted in at Ballarat on Monday continuing the fast start to the new season for his sire Farnan.
Sires With Winners - Monday August 4
Here is the full list of 26 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.