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

The Arqana Deauville August Yearling Sale hit top gear with the third and final session producing three individual yearlings that sold for €1million or more and leading the way was a sensational filly by 2021 European Horse of the Year St Mark’s Basilica, who is enjoying the winter sunshine at Jerry's Plains in preparation for his third stud season in Australia.

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.

“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.

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.