The Aidan O’Brien-trained St Mark’s Basilica won the French 2,000 Guineas in ready fashion, quickening nicely and cruising clear under a delighted Ioritz Mendizabal.

Settled in midfield on the outside, St Mark’s Basilica challenged down the outside to win at 9-4 from 80-1 shot Colosseo with 25-1 hope Breizh Eagle in third.

St Mark’s Basilica was due to be ridden by Pierre-Charles Boudot, but the champion jockey’s three-month ban while indicted on rape charges resulted in Mendizabal picking up the plum ride on last year’s Dewhurst winner.

The half-brother to 2,000 Guineas winner Magna Grecia has always been highly regarded at Ballydoyle with O’Brien throwing the son of Siyouni into Group 1 company on just his second start – despite being beaten on his debut.

He started his Classic campaign as he finished his juvenile one, with an impressive Group 1 victory and in doing so earned quotes of 9-4 for the Prix du Jockey Club, from 5-1 (cut from 11-4 immediately after the race), 4-1 (from 10) for the Irish 2,000 Guineas and 7-2 (from 12) for the St James’s Palace Stakes.

The Jim Bolger-trained favourite Poetic Flare, who won the Newmarket equivalent, was short of racing room at the cutaway and shuffled back but finished strongly.

On the disappointing favourite, described by Bolger after his Newmarket win as “the most complete horse I’ve ever had”, jockey Kevin Manning said: “I got a lovely position but he just didn’t pick up for whatever reason, maybe it’s ground related, I don’t know.” (by RacingPost)