€550,000 for St Mark’s Basilica Filly at Arqana

Currently back in Australia at Coolmore preparing for his third Southern Hemisphere season at stud, 2021 European Horse of the Year St Mark’s Basilica made a splash during the second session of the Arqana Deauville August Yearling Sale when Al Shaqab Racing bought one of his fillies for €550,000.

A half-sister to Group I winner Feed the Flame and multiple Group winner Sacred Life, the filly was consigned by Écurie des Monceaux and is from top producer Knyazhna, whose dam is a sister to Group I St Leger winner Rule of Law.

“She’s a beautiful filly,” said Mohamed Abdulrahman Al Mansour representing Al Shaqab.

“She comes from a great family that includes the top performers Feed The Flame and Sacred Life. St Mark’s Basilica was a fantastic racehorse and we’re happy to buy from his first crop.”

The filly is the highest priced yearling so far at this sale for a first crop sire and St Mark’s Basilica has had other good results with a filly from Mahati selling for €320,000 and a filly from Holy Dazzle selling for €225,000.

A five time Group I winner from 1400 to 2100m, St Mark’s Basilica stands in Australia this spring at a fee of $38,500.