Due back at Coolmore Australia this spring, St Mark’s Basilica (Fr) had an impressive new winner overnight at Ascot in the UK where Princess Petrol stormed to victory.
Trained by Ed Walker and ridden by Tom Marquand, Princess Petrol improved sharply on her debut fifth at Newbury earlier this month to power clear for a dominant three and a half length win in the 6f novice event.
Ed Walker will now look to step Princess Petrol up in grade.
“That was really smart. Princess Petrol had a lovely intro at Newbury with George Downing, who gave her a lovely educational ride, and she learned a lot there,” he said.
“She's reaped the rewards here. We'll go 7f next time. Her dam won the Oh So Sharp Stakes and those kind of races would be good for her, but the Sweet Solera might come too soon. We'll definitely step up in class now.”
Princess Petrol was purchased for 280,000 guineas at the Tattersalls October Book 1 Yearling Sale by James Toller from the Newsells Park Stud draft and runs for Elb Bloodstock.
She is the second winner from classy Distorted Humor mare Group III winner Mot Juste, a daughter of Group II winner Time On and her third dam Time Away is also a Group III winner.
Princess Petrol is the fourth winner for St Mark’s Basilica in the Northern Hemisphere with his first Australian bred progeny to race in the new season.
The 2021 European Horse of the Year by champion sire Siyouni, St Mark’s Basilica stands at a fee of $38,500 this spring at Coolmore.
