Impressive New Winner at Goodwood for St Mark’s Basilica

Tara Madgwick - Friday August 1

Coolmore shuttler St Mark’s Basilica (Fr) had a number of high profile yearlings sold at the European sales last year and one of them was a filly from Angelic Light that made 600,000 guineas at Tattersalls October Book 2.

Aylin was bought for 600,000 guineas at Tattersalls October Yearlings Book 2

Offered in the Yeomanstown Stud draft, she was bought by Alex Elliott for a partnership between Al Shaqab and Amo Racing and given to Karl Burke, who produced her to score an impressive win at Goodwood on Thursday.

Advertisement

Aylin was favourite for the 7f fillies maiden following a close second on debut at York and raced to a dominant two and three-quarter length win with David Egan in the saddle.

Karl Burke has stakes goals ahead for the promising filly, who handled the heavy ground and rainy conditions.

“We've always thought a lot of her. She's got some fancy entries and she's in the Lowther (G2), but I think we left her in there a couple of days ago just in case we were wrong about stepping up in trip.

“I was a bit nervous about the ground, if I'm honest, and obviously we've had three favourites beaten this week and important owners for this filly today, and when the rain came, I wasn't so sure, and then I got reminded that St Mark's Basilica handled heavy and the dam won on heavy.

“They were very keen to let her take a chance and obviously it was the right thing to do.”

The Group III Prestige Stakes (7f) at Goodwood is a likely target race for Aylin.

“At least since going into the autumn, if the ground does turn up soft, you never know what you're going to get; but if it does, we can go there with a bit of confidence,” Burke added.

“There's the G3 Prestige back here that we won two years ago and David (Egan) said she handled the track beautifully, so that would be high on my list.”

Aylin is the third winner from three foals to race from stakes-winning Dark Angel mare Angelic Light, who traces back to the family of Group I winners Kitesurf and Treasure Beach.

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

She is the fifth first crop winner for St Mark’s Basilica, whop will have his first Australian runners this season.

The 2021 European Horse of the Year will be back at Coolmore Australia this spring at a fee of $38,500.

Advertisment
More Reading...
2YO Stakes Racing – Sale Mail
Three stakes races for new season juveniles add plenty of interest to a stellar day of racing this Saturday in Sydney and Melbourne, so let’s take a look at the Sale Mail for these races.
Generation Foals Built for Speed
Victorian farm Lovatsville offer a diverse stallion roster for this spring geared to satisfy a wide spectrum of breeder ambitions and if explosive Aussie speed is your thing then Snitzel stallion Generation will fit the bill.
Blueblood Fillies From $3million Mares
Tom Magnier has been notable for his purchase of elite race fillies and broodmares in recent years to enhance the stellar Coolmore broodmare band and two of his $3million plus mare purchases have produced stunning fillies this spring.
Who Was Flight?
A G1 race since 1984, the Flight Stakes is a race won by special fillies - often the ones who go on to do extraordinary things on the track against all comers as older mares and that's as it should be as Hall Of Fame legend Flight exemplified that style of thoroughbred.
Juvenile Trial Watch – Warwick Farm
We had three heats for 2YO’s run at Warwick Farm on Friday morning over 815m with winners by Farnan, Ole Kirk and Kia Ora Stud’s first season sire Captivant, while Stay Inside had an impressive trial winner at Murray Bridge.
Milan Park Experience Highs and Lows
Tony Rider experienced the extreme highs and lows of breeding thoroughbreds within a matter of hours on Wednesday.
New Stakes-Winner for Zoustar
The $150,000 Listed Hannan’s Handicap (1400m) provided reigning champion sire Zoustar with a new stakes-winner when seven year-old gelding Multinational led for home and could not be caught.
Melody Belle Daughter Set for Long Awaited Debut
It will be a full-circle moment for Te Akau Racing at The Valley on Friday night when Lyrics ‘N’ Song, a daughter of their former multiple Group One winner Melody Belle, makes her debut.
Inglis Ready2Race breeze up footage NOW AVAILABLE ONLINE
Progeny of the likes of Toronado, Exceed and Excel, Harry Angel, Zoustar and Ole Kirk were amongst the standout performers from breeze up sessions conducted this week in the lead up to the Inglis Ready2Race Sale on October 16, footage of which is now available online.
Kiwi Sires a Recipe for NZB Ready to Run Sale Success
Much of the NZB Ready to Run Sale’s extraordinary success has been underpinned by the stallions that have stood in New Zealand in recent decades.