First foal for St Mark's Basilica!

The first foal by European Champion two-year-old and World Champion three-year-old St Mark’s Basilica (Siyouni) was born at Kiltinan Stud on January 9th when Vital Force owned by the John Ferguson-headed Natalma Bloodstock produced a smart-looking bay colt.

“He’s a good first foal with a good frame to fill into and a confident temperament,” enthused Kiltinan manager Donna Vowles. A daughter of Invincible Spirit, Vital Force is a half-sister to Godolphin’s Coventry Stakes winner Buratino from the immediate family of Danehill Dancer.

St Mark’s Basilica has a host of high-profile mares due to foal in the coming months having covered arguably the best first book ever at Coolmore. At Europe’s Breeding Stock Sales his in-foal mare average was bettered only by Frankel and came in at over nine times his fee.