Sottsass, St Mark’s Basilica and Etoile all star for Bonneval sire. Siyouni has taken the limelight over the past fortnight, with three top-level successes in three countries thanks to Sottsass, St Mark’s Basilica and Etoile.

Last year’s Prix du Jockey Club winner Sottsass set the ball rolling for his sire in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe on 4th October. Under a masterful ride from Cristian Demuro, Jean-Claude Rouget’s charge demonstrated class, stamina and speed to lift Europe’s most important race for owner Peter Brant of White Birch Farm. Sold as a yearling at Arqana for € 340,000, Sottsass was bred by the Ecurie des Monceaux and his Galileo dam, Starlet’s Sister is currently in foal again to Siyouni.

A week later Siyouni proved his versatility with a top-level juvenile victory for his son St Mark’s Basilica in the Group 1 Dewhurst Stakes. St Mark’s Basilica was building on a third place on his previous outing in the Group 1 National Stakes, and he stayed on strongly to secure the seven furlong Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket. The colt, who cost 1.3 million Guineas as a yearling at Tattersalls, is a half-brother to 2000 Guineas scorer Magna Grecia and St Mark’s Basilica now boasts Classic ambitions of his own for the connections of Aidan O’Brien and the Coolmore team.

Siyouni’s fine run of form continued the following weekend across the Atlantic, where his daughter Etoile shone at the highest level in the E.P. Taylor Stakes. The filly was one of the best of her generation last season in France, winning the Group 3 Prix Cléopâtre and finishing fourth, beaten just a length in the Prix de Diane. Exported to the USA this season, where she is now trained by Chad Brown, Etoile produced a game and classy performance to win the Group 1 E.P. Taylor Stakes at Woodbine, in the same Peter Brant colours as Arc hero Sottsass.

Etoile is the sixth individual Group 1 winner for her Haras de Bonneval sire Siyouni, who is currently ranked second European sire.

Updated on 19/10/2020.