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Following Snowfall's Oaks, it was St Mark's Basilica's turn in the Prix de Jockey Club.

It was the first time the Irish maestro had won this coveted trophy.  St Mark's Basilica, by Siyouni, was entrusted into the hands of veteran Basque jockey Ioritz Mendizabel who gave his mount the perfect ride and win the race by an easy 1 ¼ lengths to Sealiway and third place went to one of the two horses trained by Stephanie Nigge, who has only had a licence since last year, Millebosc.

The ground was very soft, which can explain some of the poor performances.  In the G2 Grand Prix de Chantilly there was no pace until the last 200m but Olivier Peslier had enough horse with In Swoop to put in a finishing burst and win by ½ length from Sublimis with Vaucelles third.

The Prix Sandringham also benefitted from a small field 5to allow Tahlie to add a third win for the year to her CV with Kenella second and See The Rose third.

After the Jockey Clun the Prix de Royaumont saw Thunder Drum win from our roughie Ricla 16/1 with Omna Munda Mundis third.

The Gros-Chêne over the 1000m saw a battle between the eventual winner Pradana 22/1 and the favourite Berneuil with the margin being a short neck.  Batwan was third and our horse friend Air De Valse not disgraced in fourth.

News from the UK tells us that Bolshoi Ballet was galopped on early in the race and suffered an injury to a hind leg, which could explain the horse's poor performance.