3 minute read

Multiple Group One wnning of Siyouni to stand at Coolmore Stud in 2021

Last year's European Champion Two-Year-Old, St Mark's Basilica (Siyouni), has been retired from racing and will retire to Coolmore for the coming season. The Aidan O'Brien-trained colt retires the winner of six of his nine career starts with his Group One victories coming in the Dewhurst Stakes (Gr 1, 7f) at two and then this year he added the Poule d'Essai des Poulains (Gr 1, 1600m), Prix du Jockey Club (Gr 1, 2100m), Eclipse Stakes (Gr 1, 1m2f) and the Irish Champion Stakes (Gr 1, 1m2f) to his record. 

"St Mark's Basilica is possibly the best horse we have ever had in Ballydoyle," said his trainer Aidan O'Brien. "He relaxes and quickens and has all the determination from Galileo and all the speed from Siyouni."

St Mark's Basilica was bred by Bob Scarborough and raised at Norelands Stud, like his 2,000 Guineas-winning half-brother Magna Grecia (Invincible Spirit), and was purchased by MV Magnier at the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale - Book 1 - for 1,300,000 guineas. Beginning with the Dewhurst Stakes last October, he notched up five straight Group One successes in three countries. After displaying his trademark turn of foot to great effect in the French Guineas and the Prix du Jockey Club, St Mark's Basilica put up arguably his finest performance in the Eclipse Stakes when scoring by three and a half lengths from the multiple Group One-winning older horses Addeybb (Pivotal) and Mishriff (Make Believe). 

"He's the most exciting prospect we've retired from Ballydoyle since his late grandfather Galileo," said Coolmore's David O'Loughlin. "European Champion Two-Year-Old, the highest-rated three-year-old in the world, a 1,300,000 guineas yearling by a top sire in Siyouni, a half-brother to another brilliant horse in Magna Grecia, both out of Galileo's group-winning two-year-old Cabaret. He has everything and he'll get terrific support from his owners' broodmare band too."