St Mark’s Basilica Proves Popular At Goffs En Route To Newmarket

St Mark’s Basilica’s first yearlings continued to be well-received at the Goffs Orby Sale, where he was responsible for seven costing €100,000 and upwards.

Barronstown Stud sold his highest-priced offering, a half-sister to Group 1 winners Sovereign and Jan Brueghel, which was bought by Richard Knight and Salhia Stud for €460,000. Baroda Stud was another vendor to reap the rewards, having sold a trio of six-figure yearlings to Joseph O’Brien, Goose Creek Equine and Peter and Ross Doyle.

MV Magnier purchased a pair from St Mark’s Basilica’s first crop for a combined €260,000, while Donnacha O’Brien paid €180,000 for a colt.

Next week is set to be an exciting one for the young sire, with 16 lots catalogued in the prestigious Book 1 October Yearling Sale at Tattersalls. The first of three siblings to top-flight winners is McCracken Farm’s homebred half-sister to three-time Group 1 winner Best Solution.

Kildaragh Stud later offers another half-sister to a multiple Group 1 winner in Dubai Honour, while New England Stud consign Mascalls Stud’s half-sister to dual Group 1 victor Subjectivist.

Another eight of St Mark’s Basilica’s Book 1 yearlings are out of blacktype mares, including Group 2 heroine and Group 1 third Longina, who has already produced dual Stakes winner Ottery. Stakes performer Forest Crown is another proven producer, now responsible for five Stakes horses thanks to the progressive English Oak (Wootton Bassett).

Norelands Stud sold St Mark’s Basilica himself as a yearling for 1.3million guineas and next week offer his daughter out of Group 3 winner Cartiem, whose daughter Stop The Cavalry is now Listed-placed.