'Explosive' St Mark's Basilica on track for Tarnawa clash in Irish Champion

Aidan O'Brien says St Mark's Basilica's ability to relax in a race combined with his explosive turn of foot is a "weapon that is seriously hard to find in any horse" and reports him to be bang on course for a crack at Tarnawa in the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown on Saturday week.

Indeed, St Mark's Basilica, who is unbeaten this season and produced a scintillating performance to master Mishriff in the Coral-Eclipse at Sandown in early July, is likely to be O'Brien's only representative in the race as the master trainer seeks to land the prize for a record-extending tenth time.

The eagerly awaited rematch between St Mark's Basilica and Mishriff did not happen in the Juddmonte International at York last month as a freak gallops injury, which saw his front shoe come off and cut his near-fore hind joint, ruled the Ballydoyle representative out of the race but O'Brien issued an upbeat bulletin on his superstar three-year-old on Wednesday.

O'Brien, speaking at an event organised by Horse Racing Ireland, said: "We got him back going as soon as we could and got him back into full work, and so far everything looks good.

"It [the injury] happened before the Juddmonte so he had his few days off, and it was kind of like he had a run and just started building back up for Leopardstown after that."

When asked what makes St Mark's Basilica so good, O'Brien was glowing in his praise of the joint highest-rated three-year-old in training.

O'Brien said: "He has all that genuineness from Galileo. You can see it in him, he runs with his head out and down. He gets his speed from Siyouni and Pivotal. He goes along in a race and wastes no energy. He's just waiting on you to ask him and then he has this explosive turn of foot when you do ask him. That's something that is very rare in a horse and it's very exciting. It's a weapon that is seriously hard to find in any horse.

"He's very straightforward. He has a great mind and he relaxes. He has a great stride and is very genuine. He has all the things that you would love in a horse."

Aidan O'Brien: 'He has this explosive turn of foot when you do ask him. That's something that is very rare in a horse and it's very exciting'Credit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Armory and Love are other possibles for the Irish Champion Stakes, but O'Brien could just rely on St Mark's Basilica.

"It's possible that other horses could run, but not vital. St Mark's Basilica is very happy to stand alone. He's always been like that in his races. He won't need any other horses, whatever way the race falls, he should be happy.

"If he goes, there is every chance that he could be our only runner without that being written in stone."

On St Mark's Basilica's main rival Tarnawa, O'Brien said: "She's a great filly. Dermot [Weld] does a great job with her and Colin [Keane] has given her some brilliant rides. She was very impressive the last day.

"We always say it's great when these horses turn up in these races, and even greater for us when those races are in Ireland."

Point Lonsdale: 2,000 Guineas favourite is set for the National StakesCredit: Caroline Norris (racingpost.com/photos)

Point Lonsdale is already favourite for next year's Qipco 2,000 Guineas and he will bid to make it five from five in the Goffs Vincent O'Brien National Stakes at the Curragh on Sunday week.

On his star juvenile, O'Brien said: "He's by Australia who is like Galileo in that if you see Point Lonsdale in his races he runs with his head out and down. When you ask him to lengthen, his head just gets lower and his body gets longer. Going to the line he's at his lowest and longest which is very, very unusual."

It is also going to be a big couple of months for this year's 1,000 Guineas winner Mother Earth as she is set contest the Coolmore America Justify Matron Stakes at Leopardstown on Saturday week, along with stablemate Empress Josephine, before heading to Sydney for a crack at the Golden Eagle at Rosehill on October 30, which is worth A$7.5 million (£4m/€4.7m).

Irish Champion Stakes

Paddy Power: 9-4 St Mark's Basilica, 5-2 Tarnawa, 4 Poetic Flare, 8 Mishriff, 12 Love, 14 bar

Irish Champion Stakes entries

National Stakes entries

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