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Group One Review: Prix du Jockey Club.

St Mark's Basilica (Siyouni) followed up his impressive victory in the G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains (1600m) on seasonal reappearance to record a dominant success upped in distance for the G1 Prix du Jockey Club at Chantilly on Sunday, under Ioritz Mendizabal. The jockey completed back-to-back wins in the race, having guided Mishriff (Make Believe) for John Gosden in 2020.

The Aidan O'Brien-trained three-year-old was a first triumph in the race for his esteemed handler, completing a hat-trick of victories at the top level in the process. Breaking well from stall two, his jockey settled St Mark's Basilica in a perfect stalking trip, fourth against the rail, travelling comfortably throughout. After a small nudge on the reins, the favourite took up the running from Sealiway (Galiway) at the 300m marker, displaying a smart change of pace to win emphatically. Sealiway batted on well at a big price to hold onto second, with Millebosc (Le Havre) finishing strongly into third. The Jean-Claude Rouget duo, Saiydabad (Blame) and Cheshire Academy (Flintshire) made late headway into fourth and fifth.

St Mark's Basilica is a half-brother to O' Brien's G1 2000 Guineas (1600m) winner Magna Grecia (Invincible Spirit) and seventh foal out of the Galileo mare Cabaret, a G3 winner over 1400m at two and half-sister to G3 winner Drumfire (Danehill Dancer). Bred by Robert Scarbrough, he was purchased for 1.3 million guineas at the Tattersalls Book one yearling sale in October 2019, by MV Magnier, son of Coolmoore Stud's John Magnier. Siyouni, perennial French champion, will be made available at Haras de Bonneval during the second semester of 2021 to cover mares on a southern hemisphere schedule at a fee of €100,000.

All three G1 victories have been achieved with cut in the ground but O'Brien was keen to point out that his champion three-year-old could be even better on a sounder surface. He cited the G1 Eclipse (2000m) could be on the agenda next month at Sandown before a tilt at the G1 Champion Stakes (2000m) at Ascot in October. Connections could have a major dilemma whether to head to Ascot later in the season or to step the colt up in trip for the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (2400m) having shown imperious form in France already.