Will stand at Coolmore in 2022 for a fee of $44,000 (inc GST).
Coolmore Australia announced on Wednesday that St Mark's Basilica (Siyouni) will shuttle to their Hunter Valley farm in 2022 and stand for a fee of $44,000 (inc GST).
Bred in Europe by Bob Scarborough, St Mark's Basilica was bought by MV Magnier for 1,300,000gns at the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale in 2019. Trained by Aidan O'Brien, he broke his maiden at the Curragh over six furlongs in August 2020 before finishing third in the National Stakes (Gr 1, 7f) at the following month. He rounded off his juvenile season with a victory in the Dewhurst Stakes (Gr 1, 7f) at Newmarket.
As a three-year-old last year, St Mark's Basilica was unbeaten. His four starts all came at Group 1 level, winning the Poule d'Essai des Poulains (Gr 1, 1600m) at Longchamp, the Prix du Jockey Club (Gr 1, 2100m) at Chantilly, the Eclipse Stakes (Gr 1, 1m2f) at Sandown and the Irish Champion Stakes (Gr 1, 1m2f) at Leopardstown last September. He was crowned European Champion 2YO in 2020, World Champion 3YO of 2021 and Cartier Horse Of The Year.
St Mark's Basilica is one of six Group 1 winners by French champion sire Siyouni (Pivotal), who has enjoyed success in Australia from a limited number of runners. He has sired three stakes winners in Australia so far; Alymerton, Amelia's Jewel and See You In Spring as well as the stakes placed duo See You Soon and Direct and he is operating at a strike rate of 23 per cent stakes winners to runners in Australia.
"We are delighted to offer a horse with such rare qualities as St Mark's Basilica to Australasian breeders. As a sire prospect, he has everything you could ever hope for and in terms of quality he has attracted an unparalleled first book of mares in Europe," said Coolmore Australia Principal, Tom Magnier.
"St Mark's Basilica was simply brilliant on the track, who just like leading stallions Shamardal and Lope De Vega won the French 2000 Guineas and Prix du Jockey Club double.
"His sire Siyouni is the most expensive stallion to ever stand in France and has been remarkably successful with limited opportunities in Australia. He comes from an impeccable family, being out of a Group-winning two-year-old by Galileo and half-brother to a Classic winner.
"To top it all off he's an absolutely stunning individual, so we look forward to showing him to local breeders later in the year."
St Mark's Basilica is out of the stakes winning Galileo (Sadler's Wells) mare Cabaret, making him a half-brother to dual Group 1 winner Magna Grecia (Invincible Spirit). He is currently covering his first book of mares at Coolmore Stud in County Tipperary for a fee of €65,000 and several stakes winners or producers have already scanned in foal to him including Australian Group winner Believe'N'Succeed (Exceed And Excel), dam of Group 1 winners Anthony Van Dyck (Galileo) and Bounding (Lonhro).
