€550,000 Filly Leads High Demand For St Mark’s Basilica

Al Shaqab Racing made their thoughts on St Mark’s Basilica apparent when buying a pair of fillies from his first crop for a combined €775,000 on the second day of the Arqana August Sale.

Their €550,000 spend on a half-sister to Group 1 winner Feed The Flame earned the Ecurie des Monceaux-consigned bay the title of the second highest-priced filly of the evening.

Mohamed Abdulrahman Al Mansour, director of operations at Al Shaqab, said, “She’s a lovely filly and Sheikh Joaan is very happy to get her, as are all the team here. She comes from a great family that keeps improving - Feed The Flame, Sacred Life - it just keeps getting better.

“St Mark’s Basilica was an amazing racehorse. Obviously this is his first crop but we’re happy to support the stallion because his progeny look like good horses. Hopefully they will prove that on the track.”

Earlier in the session, the same team went to €225,000 for Haras du Cadran’s half-sister to Group 2 victor Roman Candle.

Coulonces Sales was another vendor who benefitted from St Mark’s Basilica’s popularity, as their first crop filly brought €320,000 from EDC Agency and Gavin Hernon. The half-sister to dual Listed winner Manisha was consigned on behalf of Haras de Saint Laurent.

The multiple Group 1 winner enjoyed a perfect start at Friday’s opening session, when his very first offering, a colt from La Motteraye, sold to Mandore International for €175,000. Ten lots later, a filly from Haras d’Ellon was knocked down to Oceanic Bloodstock for €200,000.