Revealed: the choice first book of mares for the electrifying St Mark's Basilica

St Mark's Basilica's first book of mares is shaping up nicely, as befits one of the best, if not the best, colts to have passed through the hallowed grounds of Ballydoyle.

The three-year-old was retired after winning his fifth consecutive Group 1 in the Irish Champion Stakes in September, heading to Coolmore Stud with a career record of six victories from nine starts and with more than £2 million in prize-money banked.

The dual French Classic winner has the price tag and pedigree to go with his form, being a 1,300,000gns Book 1 yearling by Siyouni out of Cabaret, with his siblings including another Classic winner in half-brother Magna Grecia.

Coolmore have revealed that among the Group 1 winners already booked to visit him are the Queen’s Gold Cup heroine Estimate, the Niarchos family’s Matron Stakes winner Fiesolana, and Jean-Louis Bouchard’s Prix Marcel Boussac winner Tiger Tanaka.

Also due to visit are Merry Fox Stud’s Moyglare and Albany Stakes winner Cursory Glance, Northern Farm’s triple Group 1 winner in Argentina Carta Embrujada, along with the Wertheimer brothers’ champion two-year-old Safari Queen, herself the dam of Group 1 Prix St Alary winner Queen’s Jewel.

Another top class racemare and producer on the list is Ashbrittle Stud’s Oaks winner Talent, dam of Group 2 winner and Group 1 Prix Jean Romanet runner-up Ambition.

Talent, herself a Classic winner at Epsom, is due to be among St Mark's Basilica's opening book of maresCredit: Edward Whitaker

Ecurie des Monceaux have eight mares booked, including Prudenzia, dam of Group 1 winners Chicquita and Magic Wand. Another visiting is Florent Couturier’s Gamely Girl, dam of Grade 1 Summer Stakes winner Decorated Invader and second dam of Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf winner Fire At Will.

Other Group or Grade 1 producers include Charlie Nelson’s Path Of Peace, dam of Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint winner Belvoir Bay, Recambe, dam of the brilliant Laurens, and Lady Gorgeous, dam of European champion two-year-old filly Pretty Gorgeous,

Also on a dancecard packed with quality are Kirsten Rausing’s Here To Eternity, dam of Hong Kong Group 1 winners Time Warp and Glorious Forever, China Horse Club’s Beatrix Potter, dam of champion sprinter Harry Angel and Mill Reef Stakes winner Pierre Lapin, and Oceanic Bloodstock’s Motivation, dam of Joe Hirsch Turf Classic winner Rock Emperor.

Susan Hearn of Mascells Stud is sending him her blue hen mare Reckoning, dam of Subjectivist and Sir Ron Priestley, while Aliette Forien has booked in Shamiyra, dam of the Aga Khan’s Group 1 Grand Prix de Paris winner Shakeel, whose Churchill half-sister sold for €350,000 to White Birch Farm in October.

St Mark's Basilica is standing his first season in 2022 at a fee of €65,000.

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