Undefeated in 2021, exciting three year-old Siyouni colt St Mark’s Basilica went on his winning way overnight when capturing the Group I Champion Stakes at (1m2f) at Leopardstown.
Australian breeder Bob Scarborough has a small band of mares based in Ireland and one of them, 14YO Galileo mare Cabaret, is the dam of superstar colt St Mark’s Basilica.
The star colt notched his fourth consecutive Group I race this year when scoring a three-quarter length win for Ryan Moore over Tarnawa with another three year-old Poetic Flare in third place.
Cabaret had already achieved Group I success as a broodmare having delivered dual Group I winner Magna Grecia, who is in Australia for Coolmore this spring, and she has done it again with St Mark’s Basilica.
Trained by Aidan O’Brien, St Mark’s Basilica is a remarkable colt that has been able to win from 6f at two, closing out his juvenile season with a win in the Group I Dewhurst Stakes (7f), before returning at three to win up to 2100m.
“They sprinted up the straight and Sta Mark’s Basilica did it well. One thing we knew that he does is quicken. He really quickens. His strong qualities are that he relaxes and can really turn it on,” said Aidan O'Brien.
"He's just an exceptional horse. We're so lucky to have him.
"He has all the Galileo strong qualities, in that he is genuine and his head goes down when you ask him to lengthen. And then he is getting the speed from Siyouni, who is by Pivotal, so he is a beautiful blend of speed and determination."
A 1.3million guinea purchase from the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale for MV Magnier on behalf of a Coolmore partnership, St Mark’s Basilica was the Champion European 2YO Colt of 2020 and has the impressive record of six wins and two placings from nine starts
He is the second Group I winner among four winners from Group III winner Cabaret, a half-sister by Galileo to Group III winner Drumfire and stakes-winner Ho Choi.
St Mark’s Basilica’s half-brother Magna Grecia was popular with Australian breeders last spring covering 122 mares.
A Group I winner at two and three, the son of Invincible Spirit stands at a fee of $19,250.
Australian breeder Bob Scarborough had a Group double at Leopardstown with another horse that he bred, four year-old Zoffany gelding Camorra, winning the Group III Paddy Power Stakes (1m4f).
Trained by Ger Lyons, Camorra was bought for 50,000 guineas at the 2018 Tattersalls October Yearling Sale Book 1 and has won three races with this victory his first in stakes company.
Camorra is the best of four winners from US Group I winner Mauralakana.
