St Mark’s Basilica X Jeweliana

Matt Hoysted comes from a horse racing family rich in tradition. He grew up in Wangaratta before moving to Melbourne when he was 13 years old. Having a father as a trainer, Matt grew up in the stables, so it was no surprise that his first job upon moving to Melbourne was for Lloyd Williams at his Flemington stables with his uncle, Robert Hickmott, who was then stable foreman.

During his four years there, the stable transitioned to the world class training establishment Macedon Lodge. In that time Matt was able to work around champions like Efficient, Gallic and Zipping. Matt was then offered a position to work for Michael Moroney at his Flemington stable where he plied his trade for five years, of which three were served as assistant trainer. In that time the stable had Group 1 winners Brazilian Pulse, Monaco Consul and Glass Harmonium.

At the end of 2014 Matt made the move to Brisbane where he worked under leading Brisbane trainer Tony Gollan for 18 months before becoming assistant trainer for Steve O’Dea, who had prepared a swathe of Proven Thoroughbreds gallopers since 2009.

Less than four years into his role with the O’Dea stable, Matt was promoted to co-trainer and it wasn’t long before the partnership celebrated its first Group 1 together when Uncommon James triumphed in the Oakleigh Plate.

In 2024, Steve made the decision to step away from training which paved the way for Matt to become head trainer for the stable under the rebranded banner of Matt Hoysted Racing. Matt’s hands-on approach aligns with Proven’s training philosophy and has produced stakes winners like Scallopini, Gotta Kiss, Sesar, Candika, Stroll, Better Get Set & Canadian Dancer.

The most regal of broodmares took St Mark’s Basilica to the pinnacle with his first crop of runners as Diamond Necklace sparkled in Sunday’s Prix Marcel Boussac.

Coolmore’s young son of Siyouni, trained like his daughter by Aidan O’Brien, had two of his biggest days on the track in France. He claimed the Poule d’Essai des Poulains and the Prix du Jockey Club four years ago, among his five career Group 1s.

The unbeaten Diamond Necklace was already one of St Mark’s Basilica’s three black type winners, from last month’s Listed Ingabelle Stakes, with 17 of his first foals already off the mark worldwide.

However, this filly is something different as his most expensive yearling to have gone through the ring. 

MV Magnier of Coolmore went to €1,700,000 to acquire Diamond Necklace from Arqana August Yearling Sale last year. Bred in a partnership between Haras des Monceaux and Skymarc Farm, she is the tenth foal of the blue hen Prudenzia, a Listed winner by Dansili who is already responsible for Irish Oaks winner Chicquita and Coolmore’s international Group 1 star Magic Wand.

Prudenzia’s most recent offspring to have been put on the market, a filly by Night Of Thunder, broke the Arqana August record when claimed by Amo Racing for €3,000,000.

“The first for St Mark’s Basilica makes it very special,” O’Brien told Sky Sports Racing. “She’s going to be lovely, she’s a Classic filly obviously. I’d say she’ll be very comfortable starting at mile and she will stay probably the Oaks trip, I’d imagine. She’s very exciting. It’s typical St Mark’s; every week goes by they’re getting better and stronger.”

Henri Bozo, the director of Monceaux, was also emotional after the race.

“It was quite bold to send a mare of that calibre to a young stallion just starting his career,” he told France-Galop. “But it paid off. We like to send older mares to younger stallions. I try to avoid pairing older mares with older stallions. 

“The bloodline of St Mark’s Basilica – his power, depth and turn of foot – made us want to try it.”

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