AIDAN O’Brien may not have added to his Epsom Derby tally on Saturday, but he only had to wait 24 hours for Derby success as St Mark’s Basilica added the Group 1 Qatar Prix du Jockey Club to his earlier Poulains victory and gave the Ballydoyle operation a first success in the Chantilly race.

It was pretty much smooth sailing for jockey Ioritz Mendizabal and his mount as they were always handily placed from their inside draw before quickening sharply passing the 400-metre marker to leave their rivals toiling.

The overall time was by some way the best, furlong-by-furlong, of the races on the round track and the closing sectional of 24.74secs from 400 metres out does not really portray the dominance of victory as the son of Siyouni was not doing an awful lot in front after his initial turn of foot had sealed the race.

Although both his Group 1 wins have come when there has been some cut in the ground, the good-moving St Mark’s Basilica is exepected to be equally effective on a sound surface. Jockey Ioritz Mendizabal was confident that a mile and a half would be within range, so the Arc could be a target.

The comparison races were, in the main, group races. Tahile, who won the Group 2 over seven furlongs, registered the next best overall race time and, as would be expected over the shorter mile trip, the closing sectional of 23.19 was quicker.

Eyecatchers of the week

DHABAB (88+) Tuesday, June 1st, Leicester

Made up his ground very quickly once he got the message from rider Robert Havlin. A step up in grade awaits the son of No Nay Never.

RHOSCOLYN (104) Friday, June 4th, Epsom

Won in the style of a rapidly improving horse with a swift time highly creditable, given it was the last race of the day on rain affected ground.

BOLTAWAY (79+) Friday, June 4th, Doncaster

Boltaway (79+) made an impressive handicap debut and can defy a rise in grade.

BAAEED, Monday, June 6th, Leicester

A son of Sea The Stars trained by William Haggas, made an impressive debut me and finishing sectional that compared favourably.