Coolmore's first-crop sire St Mark's Basilica may not catch Starman, but he is making a name for himself in the rankings nonetheless as his son Piazza San Marco became his 12th winner and second TDN Rising Star at Galway on Tuesday. Not seen since finishing down the field at Fairyhouse in early June, Ballydoyle's grandson of Peeping Fawn made every yard on his return under Ronan Whelan in the extended mile maiden to open his account by 3 1/4 lengths from Hamiyan (Wootton Bassett). There was another three lengths back to Acclamatic (Acclamation), whose form ties in with the smart A Boy Named Susie (Starspangledbanner) to give some context.
Stable representative Chris Armstrong revealed the regard in which the winner is held at Rosegreen after he added his name to a list of winners of this which includes the stable's Trinity College, Grosvenor Square, Kyprios and Sovereign. “He is a smashing colt,” he said. “He had been showing well above-average ability at home, so we wanted to see if he was one for the Chesham at Royal Ascot but it just came too soon for him. Time has done him the world of good and he has really strengthened, but what he does this year will be a bonus.”
“You'll see the best of him next year over middle-distances and he is a fine, big, strong horse. He is by St Mark's Basilica, who we have a handful of and we have some very, very smart ones. This horse will have no problem stepping up to Stakes company hopefully this year.”
Pedigree Notes
Piazza San Marco is the first foal out of the Listed Naas Oaks Trial winner and G3 Blue Wind Stakes third Willow (American Pharoah), herself one of three Stakes performers out of the outstanding Irish Oaks, Yorkshire Oaks, Pretty Polly and Nassau-winning European champion Peeping Fawn (Danehill). They include Deep Impact's Chesham winner and Fillies Mile, Moyglare and Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf-placed September while another of Willow's half-siblings Purely Priceless (Galileo) is the dam of four Stakes performers headed by the King Edward VII runner-up Tasman Bay (Le Havre).
Peeping Fawn is a half to Kingmambo's Criterium International-winning sire Thewayyouare, while this is the family of Blushing Groom's Kentucky Oaks heroine Blush With Pride who produced the Belmont winners Rags To Riches (A.P. Indy) and Jazil (Seeking The Gold) and is the ancestress of another winner of that Classic in Arcangelo (Arrogate). Willow has a yearling colt by Gun Runner and has been bred to Justify thereafter.
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