St Mark’s Basilica Colt Sells for 950,000 Guineas

With his first Aussie bred yearlings to be offered in 2025, St Mark’s Basilica has been super popular at European yearling sales this year and demand for progeny of the champion son of Siyouni continued at the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale Book 1 this week where he was the leading first season sire by average.

St Mark’s Basilica had 12 yearlings average 296,667 guineas and his top seller was a quality colt from Longina that made 950,000 guineas for Newsells Park.

He was bought by Blandford Bloodstock with Richard Brown securing the colt for Saeed Suhail, who has twice won the Epsom Derby.

The star colt is a half-brother to Group III winner inner Ottery from German Group II winning Monsun mare Longina.

"I thought he was an absolutely gorgeous colt," Brown said.

"It's a lovely back page, too. Obviously I was very keen on him, then Saeed Suhail saw him out here, and he was much braver than I would've been.

"There aren't many owners out there who've owned two Derby winners, obviously he had Kris Kin and we bought Desert Crown here a few years ago now in Book 2. He likes mile-plus horses, and this is certainly a horse who'll need a bit of time. He looks like he's going to be a mile-and-a-quarter or mile-and-a-half horse, but he's a patient owner."

No trainer has been chosen for the expensive colt.

“We'll have a chat at the end of the sales and work it out, but I'm sure any trainer would be happy to have this colt. I'm liking what I'm seeing from St Mark's Basilica, who was an exceptional racehorse,” Brown added.

St Mark’s Basilica also had good results with fillies from Cartiem and Mondelice selling for 420,000 guineas and 370,00 guineas to Hurworth Bloodstock and Shadwell Estate Company respectively.

The filly from Mondelice is a half-sister to multiple Group I winner Dubai Honour (Pride Of Dubai), who made his mark in Australia winning the Group I ATC Queen Elizabeth stakes and Ranvet Stakes.