Absolutely Gorgeous St Mark’s Basilica Colt Sells For 950,000gns
St Mark’s Basilica was responsible for another spectacular sales result on Wednesday, when a colt offered by Newsells Park Stud sold for 950,000gns at Book 1 of the October Yearling Sale.
Blandford Bloodstock’s Richard Brown provided the deciding bid on behalf of owner Saeed Suhail, and after signing the docket, said, “I thought he was an absolutely gorgeous colt and out of a very good racemare by Monsun, who’s already produced a decent filly in Ottery.
“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 have been! On what drew Suhail to the colt, Brown continued, “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 a mile-and-a-half horse, but he’s a patient owner.”
A trainer will be decided in due course, with Brown’s final comment to the press being, “I’m liking what I’m seeing from St Mark’s Basilica, who was an exceptional racehorse.”
Blandford Bloodstock signed for St Mark’s Basilica’s two other lots signed for that day, the first of which was Churchtown House Stud’s colt out of Group 3 scorer Lady Wannabe (Camelot). 325,000gns was the price paid for February-born colt, who hails from the family of Wannabe Grand.
St Mark’s Basilica had enjoyed a terrific start on the opening day of trade, when all four sold for an average price of 297,500gns. Norelands Stud consigned the highest-priced at 400,000gns, which was fitting given that they sold St Mark’s Basilica himself at the same sale for 1.3million guineas.
Sam Haggas’s Hurworth Bloodstock signed for the filly, while MV Magnier and White Birch Farm appeared on the docket for St Mark’s Basilica’s first lot into the ring. The 85,000gns pinhook rewarded Pier House Stud with a yearling price of 220,000gns.
MV Magnier purchased the first crop sire’s next offering, a filly from Clare Castle Stud, for 300,000gns. McCracken Farms also celebrated a super result when selling their homebred filly to Team Valor for 250,000gns.