St Mark's Basilica (Fr)

Wootton Bassett (GB) has had his fee increased to €300,000 as he prepares to embark on his fifth season at Coolmore Stud in 2025, while European champion two-year-old and Derby winner City Of Troy has been introduced at €75,000. This year Wootton Bassett's first crop of Irish-bred two-year-olds have swept all before them, featuring four individual top-level winners in Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere winner Camille Pissarro (Ire), Criterium de Saint-Cloud scorer Tennessee Stud (Ire), Criterium International hero Twain (Ire) and Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf winner Henry Matisse (Ire). This season Wootton...

A trio of yearlings have been added to Book 1 of the upcoming Goffs Orby Sale. Heading the youngsters is Lot 5A, a colt by Wootton Bassett (GB) out of SW and MGSP Thai Haku (Ire) (Oasis Dream {GB}), who is already responsible for listed winner Sarrocchi (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). The Irish-bred colt is consigned by Marlhill House Stud. Offered by Al Eile Stud, Lot 81A, a filly by Siyouni (Fr) is out of An Cailin Orga (Ire) (Galileo), herself a daughter of European Champion 2-year-old filly and Irish champion...

A total of 775 lots have been catalogued for the Arqana October Yearling Sale, including a Romanised (Ire) half-brother to this year's G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains winner Metropolitan (Fr) (Zarak {Fr}), who was bought by Alessandro Marconi for €78,000 at this very sale in 2022. The five-day fixture takes place from Tuesday, October 22 to Saturday, October 26. The Romanised colt (lot 23) will be one of the early lots to go under the hammer during Part 1 of the October Yearling Sale, with lots 1 to 208 set...

DONCASTER, England--Clive Cox might not have a degree in mechanical engineering, but it's fair to say that there have been few better trainers than him over the years when it comes to masterminding the career trajectory of a 'Donny Rocket'. Think Harry Angel (Ire), the July Cup and Sprint Cup scorer bought by Cox for just £44,000 at the 2015 edition of the Goffs UK Doncaster Premier Yearling Sale, or the Prix de l'Abbaye heroine Gilt Edge Girl (GB) (Monsieur Bond {Ire}), his very first Group 1 winner who he'd...

The second seven-figure yearling tracing to Platonic (GB) (Zafonic) to sell on Sunday and the new sale topper, lot 270, a filly by St Mark's Basilica (Fr), caught the eye of MV Magnier for €1.7 million. Another consigned by Ecurie des Monceaux, the bay filly is a half-sister to Group 1 winners Chicquita (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}) and Magic Wand (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). Out of listed winner Prudenzia (Ire) (Dansili {GB}), herself a half-sister to Group 3 winner Pacifique (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}), the filly is also a half-sister to Group 3...

The colt crowned Cartier Horse of the Year in 2021 when he retired as a five-time Group 1 winner; an elite miler who also won five races at the top level, notably at Royal Ascot in both 2020 and 2021; and the GI Breeders' Cup Mile hero of 2021, speedy enough to win the previous year's G1 Prix Maurice de Gheest over six and a half furlongs. Those three summations alone should give some idea of the calibre of racehorse we're dealing with when it comes to the 2025 crop...

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Thursday's Observations features a half-brother to St Mark's Basilica (Fr). 17.50 Chelmsford City, Novice, £8,000, 3yo/up, 10fT LAUTREC (GB) (Kingman {GB}) made a winning start at Newcastle in November and takes a small step here with the Gosdens keen on protecting their precious Juddmonte commodity for now. A half-brother...

G1 Prix Marcel Boussac heroine Albigna (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}--Freedonia {GB}, by Selkirk) was the first lot to clear seven figures at Goffs on Friday, selling for €3.7 million to MV Magnier. In foal to St Mark's Basilica (Fr), the 6-year-old (lot 1212) is already the dam of a Wootton Bassett (GB) yearling colt who brought €460,000 during the Goffs Orby Sale earlier this year. She was consigned by Baroda Stud on behalf of the Niarchos family. "She is a lovely mare," Magnier told the TDN's Brian Sheerin. "The whole Niarchos...

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Sunday's Observations features a half-brother to St Mark's Basilica (Fr) and Magna Grecia (Ire). 12.55 Newcastle, £10,300, Mdn, 2yo, 8f 5y (AWT) Juddmonte's 600,000gns Tattersalls October Book 1 acquisition LAUTREC (GB) (Kingman {GB}), representing John and Thady Gosden, is half-brother to MG1SW sires St Mark's Basilica (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr})...

Two-time Group 1 producer Cabaret (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}-Witch of Fife, by Lear Fan), who is due to foal a colt by Kingman (GB) this month, will visit Siyouni (Fr) later this year, it has been confirmed to the TDN. Currently boarding at the Aga Khan Studs in France, the dam of Classic winners and young sires Magna Grecia (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) and St Mark's Basilica (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) was purchased by BBA Ireland's Adrian Nicoll for 600,000gns out of the 2011 Tattersalls December Mares Sale on behalf of Bob...

St Mark's Basilica (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}), a four-time Group 1 winner in 2021 and five-time top-level scorer overall, was named the Cartier Horse of the Year and Cartier 3-Year-Old Colt during the 31st annual Cartier Racing Awards at the Dorchester Hotel in London on Wednesday evening. The sixth Cartier Horse of the Year for the Coolmore partners since the awards began in 1991, the Aidan O'Brien trainee joins the illustrious company of stablemates Giant's Causeway (Storm Cat) (2000), Rock Of Gibraltar (Ire) (Danehill) (2002), Hurricane Run (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}) (2005),...

The 2021 nominations for the 31st annual Cartier Racing Awards, which will be held at the Dorchester Hotel in London on Nov. 10, were released on Monday. Undefeated top-class miler Baaeed (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) goes up against international Group 1 winner Mishriff (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}), St Mark's Basilica (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) who won four Group 1 races this year, and G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe hero Torquator Tasso (Ger) (Adlerflug {Ger}) for Cartier Horse of the Year honours. Besides the octet of equine awards, the Cartier/The...