Coolmore shuttler St Mark’s Basilica (Fr) had a number of high profile yearlings sold at the European sales last year and one of them was a filly from Angelic Light that made 600,000 guineas at Tattersalls October Book 2.
Offered in the Yeomanstown Stud draft, she was bought by Alex Elliott for a partnership between Al Shaqab and Amo Racing and given to Karl Burke, who produced her to score an impressive win at Goodwood on Thursday.
Aylin was favourite for the 7f fillies maiden following a close second on debut at York and raced to a dominant two and three-quarter length win with David Egan in the saddle.
Karl Burke has stakes goals ahead for the promising filly, who handled the heavy ground and rainy conditions.
“We've always thought a lot of her. She's got some fancy entries and she's in the Lowther (G2), but I think we left her in there a couple of days ago just in case we were wrong about stepping up in trip.
“I was a bit nervous about the ground, if I'm honest, and obviously we've had three favourites beaten this week and important owners for this filly today, and when the rain came, I wasn't so sure, and then I got reminded that St Mark's Basilica handled heavy and the dam won on heavy.
“They were very keen to let her take a chance and obviously it was the right thing to do.”
The Group III Prestige Stakes (7f) at Goodwood is a likely target race for Aylin.
“At least since going into the autumn, if the ground does turn up soft, you never know what you're going to get; but if it does, we can go there with a bit of confidence,” Burke added.
“There's the G3 Prestige back here that we won two years ago and David (Egan) said she handled the track beautifully, so that would be high on my list.”
Aylin is the third winner from three foals to race from stakes-winning Dark Angel mare Angelic Light, who traces back to the family of Group I winners Kitesurf and Treasure Beach.
She is the fifth first crop winner for St Mark’s Basilica, whop will have his first Australian runners this season.
The 2021 European Horse of the Year will be back at Coolmore Australia this spring at a fee of $38,500.
