Jean-Claude Seroul's ultra-consistent 7-year-old Skalleti (Fr) (Kendargent {Fr}) suffered just one reversal in six group-race starts last year and posted seasonal highs in ParisLongchamp's G1 Prix d'Ispahan and Munich's G1 Grosser Dallmayr-Preis. The globetrotting grey also saluted in 2021's G2 Prix d'Harcourt and was back at the Bois de Boulogne venue to successfully defend his title in Sunday's latest edition after failing to achieve a similar feat when third in Saint-Cloud's G3 Prix Exbury last month. The even-money favourite adopted his usual patient tactics from the outset and found a smooth rhythm tracking all five rivals through the early fractions of in this 10-furlong test. Tanking into sixth along the rail at halfway, he endured traffic at every turn in the straight and unboxed his trademark acceleration once navigating a passage to the outside approaching the eighth pole to overhaul G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere and G1 Champion S. hero Sealiway (Fr) (Galiway {GB}) and last year's runnner-up Mare Australis (Ire) (Australia {GB}), by 3/4-of-a-length and a head, in the dying embers.
“He looked to be in a bit of bother 1 1/2 furlongs from home and, once he had a clear run on the outside, he again used his turn of foot to devastating effect,” said racing manager Alain Decrion. “He may have needed the race at Saint-Cloud last time and it is always difficult to make up ground on the outside there when the going is good. He had come on for the run and he loves Longchamp. He has followed the same as programme last year–Exbury and Harcourt–and, like last year, he might pass on the [May 1 G1] Prix Ganay. The trainer will decide one way or the other and the [May 29 G1] Prix d'Ispahan could, once again, be the target.”
Reflecting on the performance of runner-up Sealiway, Pauline Chehboub said, “He didn't have the best of trips and the race didn't unfold as we thought it might, but we're delighted with the run. He had taken his race in Saudia Arabia very well and the trainer was pleased with his work at home. He was very relaxed during the preliminaries today, which was a good sign, and we will stick to the original plan and go for the [May 1 G1 Prix] Ganay.”
Skalleti, recording his 11th pattern-race victory here, is the second foal bred from MGSP Listed Prix Occitanie victrix Skallet (Fr) (Muhaymin). He is a full-brother to last year's G2 Prix Vicomtesse de Vigier winner and G1 Prix Royal-Oak runner-up Skazino (Fr), Listed Prix du Ranelagh placegetter Skalleto (Fr) and the hitherto unraced 3-year-old gelding Skalli (GB). Skallet is the leading performer out of Listed Le Vase d'Argent runner-up Siran (Fr) (R.B. Chesne {GB}), herself kin to Listed Derby du Languedoc victor Percent Premium (Fr) (Johann Quatz {Fr}). Skalleti's fourth dam La Manouche (Margouillat {Fr}) is kin to the stakes-winning Mousseline de Soie (Fr) (Riverman), herself the dam of three stakes winners headed by stakes-winning G2 Grosser Hertie-Preis von Deutschland second Silk Stage (Stage Door Johnny).
Sunday, Deauville, France
PRIX D'HARCOURT-G2, €130,000, ParisLongchamp, 4-10, 4yo/up, 10fT, 2:08.73, vsf.
1–SKALLETI (FR), 128, g, 7, by Kendargent (Fr)
1st Dam: Skallet (Fr) (SW & MGSP-Fr, $181,946), by Muhaymin
2nd Dam: Siran (Fr), by R. B. Chesne (GB)
3rd Dam: Surubinha (Fr), by Solicitor (Fr)
(€85,000 Ylg '16 ARAUG). O-Jean-Claude Seroul; B-Guy
Pariente Holding (FR); T-Jerome Reynier; J-Maxime Guyon.
€74,100. Lifetime Record: G1SW-Fr & Ger, MGSW-Ity &
G1SP-Eng, 25-18-1-3, €1,186,134. *Full to Skazino (Fr),
MGSW-Fr & G1SP-Fr, $574,639; and Skalleto (Fr), SP-Fr,
$246,161. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
Werk Nick Rating: A++.
2–Sealiway (Fr), 130, c, 4, Galiway (GB)–Kensea (Fr), by
Kendargent (Fr). (€62,000 Ylg '19 ARAUG). O-Le Haras de la
Gousserie & Guy Pariente; B-Guy Pariente Holding (FR);
T-Francis-Henri Graffard. €28,600.
3–Mare Australis (Ire), 126, h, 5, Australia (GB)–Miramare
(Ger), by Rainbow Quest. O-Gestut Schlenderhan; B-Stall
Ullmann (IRE); T-Andre Fabre. €13,650.
Margins: 3/4, HD, HD. Odds: 1.00, 4.10, 3.20.
Also Ran: Dawn Intello (Fr), Mr de Pourceaugnac (Fr), Hurricane Dream (Fr). Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by TVG.
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