Exciting young sire St Mark’s Basilica posted his second stakes-winner at Royal Ascot this year when his quality colt Thesecretadversary captured the Group III Jersey Stakes (7f) on the final day of this year’s star studded meeting.
The Fozzie Stack trained colt won the Group III Ballylinch Stud Red Rocks Stakes (7f) at Leopardstown when making his seasonal return before running well, albeit just behind the place-getters, in both the Newmarket 2000 Guineas and Irish 2000 Guineas.
Ridden again by Seamie Heffernan, Thesecretadversary was in front a long way out and was tenacious to the line in winning by a neck over Starspangledbanner colt Take Charge Star.
“Thesecretadversary put in a huge performance in two Classics when things didn't go his way and he had a 3lb penalty. It wasn't a surprise to me that he won, it was a surprise how much he drifted actually,” said Fozzie Stack.
A big flashy chestnut with prominent white markings, Thesecretadversary has been super consistent with three wins and three placings from nine starts.
Bred and raced by Coolmore in partnership with Cayton Park Stud, Thesecretadversary is the first winner from stakes-winning Gleneagles mare Too Soon to Panic, a daughter of Group III winner Scream Blue Murder with his next two dams Holly Blue and Nettle also stakes-winners.
Thesecretadversary is one of six stakes-winners for St Mark’s Basilica, whose oldest Australian progeny are two year-olds that include stakes-winner Aristopolos, stakes-placed West Coast and metro winners La Barrita and Apostle.
St Mark’s Basilica will be back at Coolmore this spring at a fee of $38,500.
