First Northern Hemisphere Foal for St Mark’s Basilica

Tara Madgwick - Tuesday January 17

2021 European Horse of the Year St Mark’s Basilica (IRE) has just completed his first season in Australia for Coolmore, but in the Northern Hemisphere his first foals are arriving.

His first European foal was born at Kiltinan Stud on January 9th when Vital Force owned by the John Ferguson-headed Natalma Bloodstock produced a smart-looking bay colt.

First Northern Hemisphere bred foal for St Mark's Basilica.

“He’s a good first foal with a good frame to fill into and a confident temperament,” enthused Kiltinan manager Donna Vowles.

Vital Force is a half-sister by Invincible Spirit to Group II Royal Ascot Coventry Stakes winner Buratino from the immediate family of Danehill Dancer.

Advertisement

St Mark's Basilica, click for more info.

St Mark’s Basilica covered over 150 mares in Australia last spring at a fee of $44,000 and his dual Group I winning half-brother Magna Grecia (IRE) has just had his first yearlings sell at Magic Millions.

Best results for Magna Grecia were the colt from Maewyn (IRE) that made $160,000 for Coolmore when bought by Ryan & Alexiou Racing Pty Ltd and the half-sister to smart three year-old Hell I Am from Forest Circle (USA) that was bought by Champion Thoroughbreds for $150,000 from Edinglassie Thoroughbreds.

Advertisment
More Reading...
Sires With Winners - Wednesday August 27
Here is the full list of 42 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Damask Rose Looking to Kickstart Te Akau Melbourne Spring
Te Akau Racing are building a strong record in the Gr.3 Cockram Stakes (1200m), and they will look to continue that at Caulfield on Saturday when Damask Rose takes her place in this year’s edition.
Promising Winner and a Star on the Rise
One of the bargain priced sires on the Newgate Farm roster, Cosmic Force has never lacked for company covering 100 plus books of mares in each of his five seasons at stud so far totalling nearly 700 mares.
Sir Stanley Goosman’s Impact on the National Yearling Sale
Karaka 2026 will mark the 100th National Yearling Sale in New Zealand, and a prominent buyer during the history of the Sale was Stanley Goosman (later Sir Stanley).  He was a key player at the Sale during the World War II era, and headed the list of winning owners in New Zealand on 10 occasions.
Breeding to Win - 2025 G1 Memsie Stakes
The big guns step out and spring is on in earnest when the Memsie (1400m WFA) rolls around and what a cracking field we have in 2025 for the first G1 of the Southern spring with 11 runners and 10 are G1 winners!
Tara Talks Racing – Stallion Parades, Old Legends and a Weekend Tip
We’re back in podcast land as the spring unfolds with plenty to talk about following our recent run of visits to the stallion parades, so what stallions did we like?
Hello Youmzain Filly Chasing More Stakes Success
Hello Youmzain (Fr) filly Platinum Diamond will put her undefeated Heavy track record on the line when she heads to Wanganui on Saturday to contest the Listed HS Dyke Wanganui Guineas (1200m).
Sire Power Highlights Quality MM Horses in Training Catalogue
An incredible selection of the country's best proven and hottest young sires will feature at the 2025 Magic Millions Gold Coast Horses in Training Sale in October.
Al Riffa Aiming Towards Melbourne Cup for Australian Bloodstock
The exceptional qualities of Coolmore shuttler Wootton Bassett (GB) are such that he can get fast juveniles and also high class older horses over a distance and we are set to see a taste of it this spring as media reports suggest Australian Bloodstock have purchased his top class 5YO stallion Al Riffa.
Spring Trial Watch – Everest Contenders on Show
The Rosehill trials on Thursday morning featured a couple of key Everest contenders with Private Harry winning easily over speedy 3YO North England, while Lady Shenandoah was under a tight grip to finish third in a later heat.