Congratulations to the connections of
St. Mark's Basilica
The A.P O'Brien-trained three year old was a single pick for Tony that almost took him to the title.
The bay colt started his season in France with a one and a quarter length win in the Poule d'Essai des Poulains at Longchamp under Ioritz Mendizabal at 41/10.
That was worth 60.2 points in our competition and it wasn't long before there was another 57.6 points in the bank courtesy of a one and three quarters length victory over future Champion Stakes winner Sealiway under the same pilot in the Prix du Jockey Club at Chantilly.
Four weeks later Ryan Moore was in the saddle for the Eclipse at Sandown and guided the evens favourite to a three and a half length win from Addeybb and 78.7 points for Tony. Longines World's Best Racehorse Rankings now had St Mark's Basilica at the top of the pile.
After a break to recover following a freak gallops incident in which his front shoe came off and hit his hind leg, St Mark's Basilica returned to the track in September as 5/6F for the Irish Champion Stakes. This time Moore came under pressure (from Tarnawa) in the final furlong and his drift across the track saw him in the Stewards' Room. Moore picked up a one-day ban for careless riding but the horse kept the race (worth 77.8 points in our competition.)
Two weeks later came the news that the soreness in the leg had returned and St Mark's Basilica was retired. O'Brien described the horse as "possibly the best we have ever had in Ballydoyle." He's now off to the breeding sheds with Coolmore's David O'Loughlin saying: "He's the most exciting prospect we've retired from Ballydoyle since his late grandfather Galileo."
The top three this season were:
274.3 - St Mark's Basilica (60.2 + 57.6 + 78.7 + 77.8)
268.2 - Hurricane Lane (50.8 + 84 + 55.4 + 78)
231.2 - Palace Pier (77.6 + 77.4 + 52.2 + 24)
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