€1.7million St Mark’s Basilica Filly Tops Arqana August

Tara Madgwick - Monday August 19

They were saving the best for last at the Arqana Deauville August Yearling Sale this year with the third and final session producing three individual yearlings that sold for  €1million plus and leading the way was a sensational filly by 2021 European Horse of the Year St Mark’s Basilica (Fr), who is enjoying the winter sunshine at Coolmore in preparation for his third stud season in Australia.

Showstopper - St Mark's Basilica filly from Prudenzia - image Arqana / Zuzanna Lupa

Consigned by Monceaux, the star filly from stakes-winning blue hen Prudenzia was knocked down to MV Magnier for  €1.7million.

A half-sister to Group I winners Chicquita and Magic Wand as well as Group III winner Philomene, she was bred in partnership by Monceaux with the late Lady O’Reilly and the same partnership also provided another of the million dollar yearlings in the session with the Night Of Thunder filly out of Paix (same family as the Prudenzia filly) bought by Al’Shira’aa Farms for €1million.

“In fairness to everybody in Monceaux they took a big risk sending a mare of that calibre to a first-season sire like St Mark’s Basilica, so I’m very happy for them because they deserve this result. Lady O’Reilly was a superb breeder and is much missed,” said MV Magnier after the sale.

 “We have a lot of the family coming through and St Mark’s Basilica was an incredible racehorse. He was very tough. He’s had an incredible sale over the last two days and a horse that’s as tough as him and a champion two-year-old and champion three-year-old, you just have to get behind him.

Advertisement

“I want to thank Henri (Bozo) and everyone at Monceaux for getting behind the horse too and breeding this lovely filly.”

St Mark’s Basilica finished the sale with eight lots selling at an average €446,250 with his next highest seller the filly from Knyazhna that made 550,000, read about her here.

St Mark's Basilica(FR), click for more info.

An elite five time Group I winner from 1400m to 2100m, St Mark’s Basilica is the best son of champion French sire Siyouni, whose champion daughter Mqse de Sevigne won the Group I Prix Jean Romanet (2000m) at Deauville on Sunday as favourite.

St Mark’s Basilica stands at a fee of $38,500 this spring.

Advertisment
More Reading...
Too Darn Hot nomination realises $255,000 in August (Late) Sale
A nomination in exceptional young stallion Too Darn Hot has topped today’s Inglis Digital August (Late) Online Sale, selling for $255,000.
Commemorative Retired to Stud
Watching the progress of Godolphin horses as they start stepping our for their new trainers has been interesting to say the least and will get more so this weekend when we see Tom Kitten go around in the Group I MRC Memsie Stakes at Caulfield, but one horse we won’t be seeing again is Commemorative.
Finding the Perfect Match for Your Mare
Now that the first foals of the season have hit the ground at farms across the country, breeders are finalising stallion bookings and searching for the perfect match for their mares.
Wootton Bassett Colt Salutes at Sandown
Overdue for a win, talented Wootton Bassett (GB) colt Yamashita’s Gold shook off maiden status with a determined victory at Sandown on Wednesday for the Gavid Bedggood stable.
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.
Trial Winner for Captivant
Captivant’s early promise was on full display at today’s Waipa trials when Capital Express stormed to victory in Heat 4. The Paul Pertab-trained 2YO colt impressed early, showcasing the speed and class expected of his G1 Champagne Stakes-winning sire in a performance that marked him as one to watch.
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).
Was it that Unusual? Who is the Oldest?
There was a lot of attention in the media regarding the age of Australian Horse of the Year elect Via Sistina (IRE) when she returned to racing for a new campaign at Randwick last Saturday, but was it really that uncommon to see an eight year-old G1 winner?
Sires With Winners - Monday August 25
Here is the full list of 12 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Sires With Winners - Tuesday August 26
Here is the full list of 28 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.