St Mark’s Basilica Leads First Season Sires at Goffs Orby

2021 European Horse of the Year St Mark’s Basilica has had strong sale results this year in Europe and they continued at the Goffs Orby Yearling Sale where he had 15 yearlings selling, with his top price a regally bred filly that sold for €460,000 and is a half-sister to Melbourne Cup entry Jan Brueghel.

Consigned by Barronstown Stud, the filly from Group II placed Danehill Dancer mare Devoted to You is a half-sister to Group I Irish Derby winner Sovereign and this year’s undefeated Group I St Leger winner Jan Brueghel.

She was purchased by Richard Knight/Salhia Stud.

“It was a pedigree that we had highlighted coming into the sale,” said Richard Knight.

“She was purchased for Salhia Stud and we have a group of two year-old fillies in training at the moment and are looking to add a few more top class fillies to potentially breed from at the end of the day. She has fallen into where we priced her, so we are delighted to get her.”

St Mark’s Basilica also had good results with a colt from Bewitched selling for €180,000 to Donnacha O’Brien and a filly from Born Again selling for €135,000 to Goose Creek Equine.

St Mark’s Basilica will have his first Australian bred yearlings selling in 2025 and is back in Australia at a fee of $38,500.