When the shuttle stallions arrive back in Australia this year there is one in particular that has certainly gained in appeal in the past 12 months thanks to the deeds of his sire Siyouni.
The 2021 European Horse of the Year, five time Group I winner from 1200 to 2100m, St Mark’s Basilica (IRE) is the best of 69 stakes-winners sired by the Aga Khan Studs based Siyouni, whose stocks have soared in 2023.
In Australia, superstar Siyouni filly Amelia’s Jewel is the undisputed best in the west winning the Group I WATC Northerly Stakes before going down by a head to Overpass in the $4million the Quokka.
Her trainer Simon Miller has outlined a spring plan for the versatile filly with Melbourne the starting point. She is slated to resume in the Group II VRC Let's Elope at Flemington on September 16, before heading to The Valley for the Group II MVRC Stocks Stakes and then to the Group I MRC Toorak Handicap.
All going well connections will then have the option of Cox Plate or Golden Eagle, a nice choice to have!
In the Northern Hemisphere, Siyouni recently posted a historic double when he sired the winners of both the Group I Irish 2000 Guineas and 1000 Guineas in Paddington and Tahiyra.
Both three year-olds are likely to run at Royal Ascot with the Aidan O’Brien trained colt Paddington to run for Coolmore in the Group I St James’s Palace Stakes, while the Dermot Weld trained filly Tahiyra to run in the Group I Coronation Stakes.
St Mark’s Basilica is the only commercial son of Siyouni standing in Australia this spring and returns for his second season priced at $44,000, so we thought a look at his first book of mares might prove interesting.
He covered 159 mares owned by some of the best breeders in the country with stakes-winners and stakes producers listed below:
Stakes-Winning Mares
G1
Fashions Afield
Lizzie L’Amour (NZ)
Savaria (NZ)
Serious Speed
The Party Stand (NZ)
G2
Miss Rose de Lago
Auyantepui (GB)
G3
Cool Passion
Fabergino
Le Lude
Diva Express (USA)
Kookie Gal (USA)
Listed
Astara (NZ)
Beauty
Cabernet
Chinchilla
Hela
Hinerangi
Not Only Florina (IRE)
Real Charm
She’s Alright
Dams of Stakes-Winners
G1
Silent Sedition
D’Argento
Dear Demi
Portland Sky
G2
Madam Rouge
Kiss and Make Up
Cherry Tortoni
G3
Beauty Eternal
Ecumenical
Scorpz
Rekyjavik
The Fortune Teller
Missile Mantra
Listed
Lord Cosmos
Affable
