St Mark's Basilica provided Aidan O’Brien with his fifth victory in the Emirates Poule d’Essai des Poulains at Longchamp.
It is 19 years since the Ballydoyle handler first landed the French 2000 Guineas with Landseer in 2002, subsequently adding to his tally with Aussie Rules (2006), Astronomer Royal (2007) and The Gurkha (2016).
Making his first appearance since winning the Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket in October under Frankie Dettori, St Mark’s Basilica was a 41-10 chance (9-4 UK and Ireland industry SP) in the hands of Ioritz Mendizabal, who initially settled his mount in midfield.
Some early scrimmaging meant he got shuffled back in the back, but he began to make inroads on the pacesetters rounding the home turn and was switched wide to deliver his challenge.
Once asked to extend fully, St Mark’s Basilica showed a sizzling turn of foot to charge to the front and he was well on top at the line.
Jim Bolger’s favourite Poetic Flare – bidding to double his Classic tally following success in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket a fortnight ago – was stuck behind a wall of horses early in the home straight. He was staying on at the finish and passed the post in sixth.
St Mark’s Basilica was due to contest last year’s Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere, but he had to sidestep the engagement due to an issue with suspected contaminated feed, with the colt then rerouted to the Dewhurst.
A second French visit could now be in prospect for next month’s Prix du Jockey-Club over 10 furlongs, although the St James’s Palace Stakes at Ascot provides an alternative over a mile.
O’Brien said: "The plan last year was that he would go to the Lagardere and then on to there.
"He quickens very well. He has an option to go to Ascot or go back for the French Derby. The original plan was that he would go there and back for the French Derby.
"He’s been working lovely and you saw the way he progressed through last year.
"They all couldn’t go to Newmarket and when he was to go to France last year, we said we’d stick that way."
Mendizabal was teaming up with St Mark’s Basilica for the first time and O’Brien added: "He gave him a good ride and rode for us before when second on Lope Y Fernandez at Deauville last year."
Coeursamba denied Mother Earth a Classic double with a shock victory in the Emirates Poule d'Essai des Pouliches.
Having swooped to victory in the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket a fortnight ago, the Aidan O’Brien-trained Mother Earth was the clear favourite to follow up in the French equivalent, with Christophe Soumillon coming in for the ride.
The Zoffany filly travelled strongly for much of the one-mile contest and briefly looked set to prevail after picking up well inside the final two furlongs.
However, she did ultimately not pick up as well as Jean-Claude Rouget’s Coeursamba, who was a 38-1 shot (66-1 UK and Ireland industry SP) under Cristian Demuro but won with something to spare.
The three-year-old had won just one of her seven previous starts, most recently finishing third in the Prix du Louvre over the course and distance last month.
Rouget said: "The filly was in great shape. We gave her the entire winter off and sent her to the stud. We couldn't get her back in very early, but that didn’t worry me too much as she ran quite a lot as a two-year-old.
"I picked the Prix du Louvre for her seasonal comeback, with orders to give her a gentle race. Everything went well for her today – a good draw, in good physical condition. She has experience, and that matters in these kinds of races."
Coeursamba appears unlikely to bid for further Classic glory in the French Oaks, with Rouget keen to stick to a shorter distance – potentially in the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot.
He added: "It's interesting for the rest of the season to come. I didn’t enter her in the Coronation Stakes, due to the complications caused by Covid. We will see what the next step is after a discussion with her connections.
"I don’t think that she will run in the Prix de Diane as she has limited stamina, but Ascot is a possibility."
