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Dual French Classic winner St Mark's Basilica has been retired by his trainer Aidan O'Brien.

Son of French-bred stallion Siyouni, St Mark's Basilica was crowned European Two-Year-Old in 2020, following a three-quarter length success in the G1 Dewhurst Stakes (1400m) at Newmarket. He commenced his Classic campaign with a commanding victory in the G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches (1600m) at Paris-Longchamp and returned to France for a tilt at the G1 Prix du Jockey Club (2100m).

Despite strong opposition in the Chantilly feature race, St Mark's Basilica was ridden with confidence by Ioritz Mendizabal and comfortably won by one and three-quarter lengths in an eighteen-strong field. The colt returned after a month's absence to take on a small but select field in the G1 Eclipse Stakes (2000m) at Sandown, beating Addeybb and Mishriff by three and a half lengths.

St Mark's Basilica potentially produced his best career performance when taking the G1 Irish Champion Stakes (2000m) in September, with G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (2400m) favourite Tarnawa in second and G1 2000 Guineas (1600m) hero Poetic Flare.

The colt has been identified as a valuable stallion prospect for Coolmore Stud due to his bloodline. As a son of Siyouni out of a Galileo mare, St Mark's Basilica offers a different breeding proposition compared to his Coolmore counterparts. Although his fee for 2022 is yet to be announced, he is expected to be very popular at stud.