ST MARK’S Basilica (Siyouni) sired a second European classic winner from his first crop when Venetian Prince won the 143rd Group 2 Derby Italiano at San Siro in Rome on Tuesday, following on from Diamond Necklace who was successful in the Group 1 Poule d’Essai des Pouliches-French 1000 Guineas.

This was yet another big race win for a Littleton Stud homebred, sporting the distinctive colours of Jeff Smith. Venetian Prince is a fifth-generation homebred from Littleton Stud in Hampshire, the farm that Smith took over more than four decades ago.