St Mark's Basilica

Book 2 of the October Yearling Sale, which begins its three-day run this Monday, marks a welcome return to the consigning ranks of Daylesford Stud. Daylesford is a name synonymous with quality and it is not just the organic farmshop and luxury goods brand to which that label can be applied. The stud's owner, Lady Bamford, has long been a breeder of top-tier horses, her maroon colours having been carried to glory by two homebred Oaks winners since 2009 - Sariska (GB) (Pivotal {GB}) and Soul Sister (GB) (Frankel {GB})....

By Emma Berry and Adam Houghton NEWMARKET, UK -- If Tuesday was Amo day, Wednesday was the day of Godolphin as Sheikh Mohammed's team, so often the dominant force at Book 1, hit top gear in signing for the top four lots and four of the five seven-figure horses of the second session. Amo Racing did not leave Park Paddocks on Wednesday empty-handed. Indeed, Kia Joorabchian added another seven yearlings to his eye-popping haul on the opening day, and his stated intention to recruit the best possible bloodlines in order...

At €65,000, St Mark's Basilica (Fr) was the most expensive horse to retire to stud in 2022, with a racetrack performance and pedigree that justified the fee. After all, he was the world-champion three-year-old, European champion two-year-old and Cartier Horse of the Year, with a race record that included five straight Group 1 wins, from the Dewhurst at two straight through to the Irish Champion Stakes the following autumn. By Siyouni (Fr) out of the Galileo (Ire) Group-winning mare Cabaret (Ire), he is a half-brother to the Classic winner Magna...

By Brian Sheerin and Adam Houghton DEAUVILLE, France - Talk about a fitting finale. After what could only be described as a patchy opening two days to the August Yearling Sale, a St Mark's Basilica (Fr) filly (lot 270) out of Ecurie des Monceaux's blue hen Prudenzia (Ire) (Dansili {GB}) topped Sunday's concluding session at €1.7 million when sold to Coolmore's MV Magnier. Prudenzia is the gift that keeps giving for Henri Bozo's powerful breeding operation in France. Who could forget her daughter Magic Wand (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who became...

The catalogue for the Tattersalls September Sale has been released and is available online, the auction house announced via presser on Tuesday. Set to take place on Tuesday, Sept. 10 after having previously gone late August, 240 lots have been assembled with 155 colts and geldings both in and out-of-training as well as 77 fillies and mares both in and out-of-training. Seven broodmares were also catalogued. Scheduled to go through the ring are consignments from some of England's leading trainers including lots offered on behalf of John & Thady Gosden...

Next week, when the international sales scene shifts to France for the Arqana August Yearling Sale, a good chunk of American agents, owners, and trainers will head on over for the party. No one ever needs an excuse to go to Deauville, but if you're looking to justify your trip to your principals or partners, look no further. We've got you covered. The selected sessions of the Arqana sale run from the 16th to the 18th, Friday to Sunday, and are followed by the V2 sale on Monday. "This is...

St Mark's Basilica (Fr), Churchill (Ire), Starspangledbanner (Aus) and Wootton Bassett (GB) have been confirmed on the Coolmore Australia roster for 2024, although a fee has yet to be revealed for the latter. Wootton Bassett stood for $93,500 and covered 131 mares in 2023, which included Group 1 winners Srikandi and Spright. His return down under has been eagerly-anticipated and he will spearhead the travelling contingent.  "We are delighted to be able to confirm that Wootton Bassett is returning in 2024," Tom Magnier said. "He is now having his first...

Coolmore Stud's Mark Byrne has acknowledged that many breeders will be in two minds about covering their mares after what he described as one of the most "unusual" years of trade in 2023 but but encouraged supporters of the stud to retain the faith by saying "it's not always dark at five o'clock." Byrne was speaking during the Irish Stallion Trail where visitors to Coolmore got a chance to see newbies Paddington (GB), Little Big Bear (Ire) and The Antarctic (Ire). Parallels were drawn between the quandary facing breeders in...

With the foal sales at Goffs and Tattersalls confined to the rear view mirror, perhaps now is the time to get a good gauge on the young sires coming through.  Bragging rights belong to St Mark's Basilica (Fr), who topped the December Foal Sale at Tattersalls when a filly by the multiple Group 1-winning stallion out of Oaks winner Talent (GB) sold for 575,000gns.  The St Mark's Basilica sale-topper was consigned by Ashbrittle Stud and bought by agent Jill Lamb on behalf of Newsells Park Stud, with the former labelling...

Friday marked a breakout result for five-time Group 1-winner St Mark's Basilica (Fr) as a filly by Coolmore's freshman sire out of the Oaks winner Talent (GB) (New Approach {Ire}) topped the December Foal Sale at Tattersalls on 575,000gns. The aggregate fell 11% compared to this day 12 months ago to 17,943,000gns while the clearance rate climbed 7% to 87%. The average fell 13% to 95,952gns and the median dipped 9% to 62,000gns. It was bloodstock agent Jill Lamb, bidding on behalf of Newsells Park Stud, who came out on...

It is the most wonderful time of the year. No, I'm not talking about Christmas, but the upcoming foal sales.  What is it that we all love about this time of year? Surely much of the attraction about the foal sales revolves around seeing the progeny of first-season sires and predicting who is here to stay and who will be banished to the memory banks in the years to come.  The best part of the whole thing is you get to put your money where your mouth is and there...

Coolmore has introduced three new names to its Irish roster for next year with Paddington (GB) heading the list of newcomers at €55,000. The son of Siyouni (Fr) won six of his eight races this year, including four Group 1 victories in the Irish 2,000 Guineas, St James's Palace, Eclipse, and Sussex S. Little Big Bear (Ire), winner of the G1 Phoenix S. at two followed by the G2 Sandy Lane S. this year before finishing runner-up in the G1 Commonwealth Cup, will stand for €27,500. The Antarctic (Ire), a...