2021 European Horse of the Year St Mark’s Basilica (Fr) is at Coolmore Australia this spring and had an impressive debut winner at Ascot overnight with El Vamos powering clear of her rivals to win as she pleased.
Trained by George Boughey and ridden by Billy Loughnane, El Vamos kicked off her career in a 1m maiden and made light of the heavy ground to score by nearly four lengths in a dominant display.
“El Vamos started off with a mile today, but I don't think she'll have any problems staying further. I imagine there will be some nice options off the back of this. She hit the line good and I imagine she'd be even better if something could have taken me into the race for longer, but it was a nice performance,” said Billy Loughnane.
Bred by Australian breeder Bob Scarborough’s Wood Nook Farm, El Vamos was sold through the Tattersalls October Book 1 Yearling Sale fetching 420,000 guineas when bought by Hurworth Bloodstock and runs for George Waud.
She is a half-sister to stakes-placed Stop the Cavalry and is the second winner from Group III winning Cape Cross mare Cartiem, a grand-daughter of Group III winner Minatyla. The family has enjoyed success in Australia producing Group I winning import Manighar and current Group winning mare Verona Rose.
Interestingly, Bob Scarborough, who bred El Vamos also bred and sold her sire St Mark’s Basilica, so it’s a pedigree he knows inside and out.
Cartiem, the dam of El Vamos was bought for Scarborough by Damon Gabbedy’s Belmont Bloodstock for 750,000 euros at the 2019 Arqana Saint Cloud Arc Sale and El Vamos is her third foal.
El Vamos is the 11th first crop winner for St Mark’s Basilica, who will have his first Australian bred runners this season.
The five time Group I winning son of Siyouni stands at a fee of $38,500.
