St Mark’s Basilica Filly Crowned Top Lot At €1.7million

Phenomenal demand for St Mark’s Basilica’s first crop at the Arqana August Sale reached a crescendo as MV Magnier provided a sale-topping bid of €1.7million for Ecurie des Monceaux’s daughter of Prudenzia.

Prudenzia is one example of a top-class book of mares sent to the multiple Group 1 winner, she being the dam of Mackinnon Stakes heroine Magic Wand (Galileo) and Irish Oaks winner Chicquita (Montjeu).

“In fairness to everyone at Monceaux, they took a big risk in sending a mare like her to a first-season sire,” MV Magnier acknowledged. “We’re just very happy for them. St Mark’s Basilica was an incredible racehorse- very tough.”

The top lot contributed to an impressive average price of €446,250 for St Mark’s Basilica’s offerings over the three days, having been bred at a fee of €65,000.

On the subject, Magnier commented, “St Mark’s Basilica has had an incredible sale these past few days. Listen, a horse who was as tough and as talented as he was- the champion two-year-old and champion-three-year-old- you have to get behind him.

“We’re grateful to Monceaux for supporting him with such a high-class mare and thankfully he came up with a very nice filly. Obviously, Prudenzia was bred in partnership with Lady O'Reilly. She was a superb breeder and will be sorely missed by the industry.”