Bob Scarborough-bred son of Siyouni wins his third Group 1 race

The Aidan O’Brien-trained St Mark’s Basilica (Siyouni) was impressive in taking out his third Group 1 race when he won Sunday’s Prix du Jockey Club (Gr 1, 2100m) at Chantilly. 

Starting favourite, St Mark’s Basilica settled behind the leaders. He came with his run along the fence, showing a good turn of foot and scored a comfortable one and three quarter length victory over Sealiway (Galiway). 

"You need a very good horse to win it and it's a very difficult race to win," said O'Brien who was winning the race for the first time. 

"His qualities are that he has a lot of speed and he can quicken very well. He's a very relaxed horse, he travels well and he's kind in his races. We thought all those were qualities he would need to win the Jockey Club."

Winning jockey Ioritz Mendizabal said: “This morning I spoke with Aidan, and he asked me not to go to the front too early, so I waited as long as I could. He was going so well that I had to go to the front a little bit further out than I wanted.

“But he has won like a horse that would stay the full Classic distance (2400 metres) and any question of him getting the (2100 metre) trip today, he proved.

“He’s a very good horse. He could be an Arc de Triomphe horse in two or three months. The distance is no problem.

“I had a perfect run on the inside and the gaps opened up very nicely for me.”

Bred by Bob Scarborough, St Mark’s Basilica won the Dewhurst Stakes (Gr 1, 7f) at Newmarket last October and he resumed at three with victory in the Poule d’Essai des Poulains (Gr 1, 1600m) on June 6. He was bought by MV Magnier for 1,300,000gns and has now won four of his seven career starts taking his earnings to almost £1.4 million. 

He is one of four winners out of Group 3 winner Cabaret (Galileo) making him a half-brother to Group 1 winning shuttler Magna Grecia (Invincible Spirit).

Superstar! St Mark’s Basilica lands a French Classic double as he wins the Group 1 Qatar Prix du Jockey Club for Aidan O’Brien and Ioritz Mendizabal at @fgchantilly… pic.twitter.com/PZ5WUVz49b

— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) June 6, 2021