Jean-Claude Seroul | Horse Racing Free Tips

Skalleti Swoops late For Harcourt Win

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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Can Skalleti Do It All Over Again?

Now that Cheltenham's beloved festival has ended, the Flat picks up the thread seamlessly with an old favourite in the mold of some of the best-known jumps campaigners which have enriched this week's action in the Cotswolds.

Step forward Skalleti (Fr) (Kendargent {Fr}), Jean-Claude Seroul's veteran consumer of group contests who looks for back-to-back successes and an 11th Pattern race in Saturday's G3 Prix Exbury at Saint-Cloud. A repeat of his exploits when garnering ParisLongchamp's G1 Prix d'Ispahan and Munich's G1 Grosser Dallmayr-Preis last term should be enough if he is anywhere near a peak.

Joined by the fellow Jerome Reynier-trained G2 Gran Premio del Jockey Club winner Road To Arc (Fr) (Planteur {Ire}), the 7-year-old meets Bernard Giraudon's Pretty Tiger (Ire) (Sea the Moon {Ger}), who is unbeaten in two starts here including the G2 Prix Eugene Adam in July, and an intriguing Fabre project in Baron Edouard De Rothschild's G2 Prix du Conseil de Paris runner-up Mr De Pourceaugnac (Fr) (Camelot {GB}).

Early Classic Clues?

On the same Saint-Cloud card, the 3-year-old generation get their first shot at staking a claim for the upcoming Classics with the 10 1/2-furlong Listed Prix Francois Mathet playing host to Coolmore's Jasperoid (GB) (Galileo {Ire}).

A G1 Prix du Jockey Club entry, the first foal out of the G2 Duchess of Cambridge S. winner Illuminate (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) opened his account over a mile here in November and represents the Fabre stable. Also emanating from that temple of dreams is Sean Mulryan's Best Years Yet (GB) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}), who was arguably more impressive than his stablemate when scoring over a mile and a quarter on the same card. A half-brother to the classy stayer Marmelo (GB) (Duke of Marmalade {Ire}), he is gelded so there will be no Classic agenda for him in 2022.

G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches aspirants take part in the Listed Prix La Camargo, staged over a mile just over an hour in advance of the Listed Prix Omnium II for those who have the G1 Poulains in their sights. Craig Bernick's Lyon Parilly winner Know Thyself (Ire) is another Galileo with the Classics on her agenda in the Camargo, which boasts the high-class La Cressonniere (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}) in its recent honour roll. Know Thyself, a Coolmore-bred daughter of the top-level New Zealand performer Fix (NZ) (Iffraaj {GB}), hails from the Francis-Henri Graffard stable responsible for the last two winners of this in Emoji (Ger) (Soldier Hollow {GB}) and Sweet Lady (Fr) (Lope de Vega {Ire}).

Lurking in a competitive renewal of the Omnium is Ecurie Ama Zingteam's unbeaten Mathletic (Fr) (Kingman {GB}), who upset 'TDN Rising Star' Osmose (Fr) (Zoffany {Ire}) over seven furlongs at Chantilly in September. Andre Fabre pitches the half-brother to the smart Gidu (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) and Marbre Rose (Ire) (Smart Strike) in alongside his G3 Prix Thomas Bryon scorer Dreamflight (GB) (Frankel {GB}) in the Lady Bamford silks.

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Group 1 Winner Skalleti on Show in Rome

Likeable gelding Skalleti (Fr) (Kendargent {Fr}), a Group 1 winner in France and Germany, continued to pad his admirable record with a second victory in the G2 Premio Roma at Capannelle on Sunday. The grey won his first edition in 2019.

Sent off at 6-5, the crowd's pick raced last of all in the bog-like going, as Alastor (Ire) (Helmet {Aus}) cut out the early running. Making up ground down the long straight, Skalleti raced out in the center of the course and was within striking distance with a quarter mile to travel. He quickly took over leadership duties shortly thereafter and resisted the late charge of Flag's Up (Ire) (War Command) and Brentford Hope (GB) (Camelot {GB}) to win by two lengths. The margin between the latter pair was 3 1/4 lengths at the line.

Jean-Claude Seroul's 6-year-old has enjoyed his best season to date this term, which kicked off with a win in the G3 Prix Exbury at Saint-Cloud in March. ParisLongchamp's G2 Prix d'Harcourt went his way on Apr. 11 and he scored his first Group 1 win in the G1 Prix d'Ispahan on May 30. Given a brief freshening, Skalleti returned with a five-length win in Munich's G1 Grosser Dallmayr-Preis-Bayerisches Zuchtrennen on July 25. He found several too good on Sept. 12, running fourth in the G2 Prix Foy to Deep Bond (Jpn) (Kizuna {Jpn}).

Pedigree Notes

The second foal and most decorated offspring of his stakes-winning dam Skallet, who was also placed in the G3 Prix Fille de l'Air, G3 Prix Penelope and G3 Prix Andre Baboin-Grand Prix des Provinces, Skalleti is followed by the triple group winner Skazino (Fr) (Kendargent {Fr}), who was also second in this year's G1 Prix Royal-Oak. Her last reported foal is a juvenile full-brother to the winner already named Skalli (GB) (Kendargent {Fr}).

Sunday, Rome, Italy
PREMIO ROMA-G2, €231,550, Rome, 11-7, 3yo/up, 2000mT, 2:05.00, hy.
1–SKALLETI (FR), 129, g, 6, 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 ARQAUG). O-Jean-Claude Seroul. B-Guy
Pariente Holding (Fr). T-Jerome Reynier. €89,462. Lifetime
Record: G1SW-Fr & Ger, G1SP-Eng, 23-17-1-2, €1,109,080.
*Full to Skalleto (Fr) (Kendargent {Fr}), SP-Fr, $241,632; and
Skazino (Fr) (Kendargent {Fr}), MGSW & G1SP-Fr, $573,373.
Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the
   eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Flag's Up (Ire), 126, c, 3, War Command–Baby Revolution
(Ire), by High Chaparral (Ire). (€12,000 Ylg '19 SGASEP).
O-Roberto Saggini. B-Razza Del Velino (Ire). T-A. Botti.
€39,363.
3–Brentford Hope (GB), 129, g, 4, Camelot (GB)–Miss Raven
(Ire), by Raven's Pass. (€80,000 Ylg '18 ARQOCT; €130, 2yo
'19 ARQMAY). O-Bernardin & Sean Mulryan. B-Haras du Logis
Saint-Germain (GB). T-Richard Hughes. €21,471.
Margins: 2, 3 1/4, 4. Odds: 1.29, 15.02, 6.21.
Also Ran: Dawn Intello (Fr), Brigante Sabino (Ire), Arktisz (Fr), Cima Emergency (Ire), Alastor (Ire), Thunderman (Ity), Tokyo Gold (Fr).
Click for the Racing Post chart or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video.

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Home Win For France As Footstepsinthesand’s Marianafoot Takes The Maurice De Gheest

There were just three of the dozen to contest Sunday's G1 LARC Prix Maurice de Gheest at Deauville trained in France, but despite extremely tough foreign opposition the home team managed a surprise one-two led by Marianafoot (Fr) (Footstepsinthesand {GB}). Prolific at a lower level of late, Jean-Claude Seroul's 6-year-old had captured the seven-furlong G3 Prix du Palais-Royal and G3 Prix de la Porte Maillot on ParisLongchamp's turning track May 30 and July 1 but was equally at home over the straight course here with Mickael Barzalona burying his mount in the stand's-side group early. Tacking on to the heels of the G1 July Cup hero Starman (GB) (Dutch Art {GB}) inside the final two furlongs, the 9-1 shot sliced his way through a gap to swamp that 9-5 favourite passing the furlong pole. Readily asserting from there, the chestnut who was extending the amazing run of his owner-breeder and trainer Jerome Reynier in 2021 following the success of their Skalleti (Fr) (Kendargent {Fr}) had 1 3/4 lengths to spare over compatriot Tropbeau (GB) (Showcasing {GB}) at the finish. That 92-1 shot was the shock of the race as she denied Starman by a nose for the silver medal. “We've been targeting this for a while and in all his races beforehand we had in mind that they were preps for this,” Reynier explained. “We know he stays seven easily and I think he'll go a mile, so we had it in mind to make the running and turn it into a stamina test if need be. It was just a matter of getting an opening and he settled it within a matter of strides.”

With France winless in the six preceding domestic group 1 races, Marianafoot looked to have a tall order to stop that trend especially with such a potent international threat including the title holders of the July Cup, G1 Prix Jean Prat, G1 Commonwealth Cup, G1 Qipco British Champions Sprint S. and G1 Vincent O'Brien National S. Even allowing for his relentless progress since December, where he began his winning sequence in a conditions event over this trip on this venue's Polytrack, the idea of him upstaging such a stellar cast was in part fanciful and few would have predicted that the finish would involve a duo who were yet to figure at this level. Tried over a straight track on his fourth start this year in Chantilly's Listed Prix Servanne over six furlongs Apr. 26, he proved that held no fears before twice inflicting defeats on Duhail (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) at ParisLongchamp. After that rival had run such a fine race to be on the premises in the G1 Sussex S. last week, the portents were strong that he would at least be there at the business end and he was drawn favourably low which would aid his cause.

With the other 9-5 joint market-leader Campanelle (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) proving difficult behind the stalls and fly-leaping and nearly unshipping Frankie Dettori exiting the stalls, she could almost be ruled out of contention even before she took too hard a grip racing far side. In a fascinating tactical affair, Maxime Guyon opted to pursue the Stonestreet sensation on Thunder Moon (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) as they raced in isolation with Hollie Doyle adopting her usual front-running ploy on Glen Shiel (GB) (Pivotal {GB}) up the centre and it may be no coincidence that this trio eventually filled the last three places. Following Glen Shiel was the G2 Lennox S. winner Kinross (GB) (Kingman {GB}) and Tropbeau, while stand's side the third of the French runners Ocean (Fr) (Exosphere {Aus}) led the Jean Prat hero Laws of Indices (Ire) (Power {GB}) and Starman with the winner tucked in behind. Starman had forged ahead with 300 metres remaining, but Marianafoot was really picking up in his shadow and as that rival found extra the July Cup winner faded close home to lose second to Tropbeau who emerges with great credit.

“When I ran him over six furlongs at Chantilly, I considered it a test over a straight course and although the owner wasn't too keen to run I told him we needed to teach him something,” Reynier said. “That proved to be the right move, as since then he has been perfect. He is now a group 1 winner and a stallion prospect. We'll keep him in Deauville and keep him fresh to see if we go for the [G1 Prix Jacques le] Marois next week. I know Palace Pier is coming and he'll be a tough nut to crack, but if he's doing well we might well take our chance. Later, the obvious target is the [Oct. 3 G1 Prix de la] Foret [at ParisLongchamp] if the ground hasn't turned too soft by then. If we are lucky, we might finish in the Breeders' Cup Mile.”

Stephane Pasquier said of Tropbeau, “The filly showed very good acceleration to pip Starman and take second. It's all very satisfying.” Starman's owner David Ward commented, “Starman was beaten by the ground. We will have to travel outside Europe at some point to find ground that suits him. He still ran well, despite the conditions not being to his liking. The jockey confirmed our impression. On good ground, he's a different horse.”

Marianafoot's dam Marianabaa (Fr) (Anabaa) is also responsible for the stable's 4-year-old Padron (Ire) (Gris de Gris {Ire}), who captured this year's Listed Prix Altipan and was third in the G3 Dusseldorfer Fruhjahrs-Meile. The second dam is the Listed Prix des Lilas scorer and G3 Prix Chloe runner-up Maria Gabriella (Ire) (Rock of Gibraltar {Ire}), who produced the listed scorer Mariafoot (Fr) from a mating with Marianafoot's sire Footstepsinthesand. Maria Gabriella is kin to the Listed Prix Volterra winner and G3 Prix d'Aumale and G3 Prix Miesque runner-up Night of Light (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) and to last year's G2 Dante S. runner-up Highest Ground (Ire) (Frankel {GB}). Marianabaa's 3-year-old full-sister to Marianafoot named Marianansand (Fr) was fourth in the Listed Prix Aymeri de Mauleon this term, while she also has the unraced 2-year-old colt Mariananchic (Ire) (Authorized {Ire}).

Sunday, Deauville, France
LARC PRIX MAURICE DE GHEEST-G1, €380,000, Deauville, 8-8, 3yo/up, 6 1/2fT, 1:17.04, sf.
1–MARIANAFOOT (FR), 130, h, 6, by Footstepsinthesand (GB)
1st Dam: Marianabaa (Fr), by Anabaa
2nd Dam: Maria Gabriella (Ire), by Rock of Gibraltar (Ire)
3rd Dam: Celestial Lagoon (Jpn), by Sunday Silence
1ST GROUP 1 WIN. O/B-Jean-Claude Seroul (FR); T-Jerome Reynier; J-Mickael Barzalona. €217,132. Lifetime Record: SW-Qat, 23-15-2-1, €650,262. *1/2 to Padron (Ire) (Gris de Gris {Ire}), SW-Fr & GSP-Ger. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Tropbeau (GB), 127, f, 4, Showcasing (GB)–Frangipanni (Ire), by Dansili (GB). (60,000gns Ylg '18 TAOCT; €180,000 2yo '19 ARQMA). O-Lady Bamford; B-Lord Margadale (GB); T-Andre Fabre. €86,868.
3–Starman (GB), 130, c, 4, Dutch Art (GB)–Northern Star (Ire), by Montjeu (Ire). O/B-David Ward (GB); T-Ed Walker. €43,434.
Margins: 1 3/4, NO, HD. Odds: 8.90, 92.00, 1.80.
Also Ran: Brando (GB), Kinross (GB), Ocean (Fr), Lope Y Fernandez (Ire), Laws of Indices (Ire), Rohaan (Ire), Glen Shiel (GB), Thunder Moon (Ire), Campanelle (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by TVG.

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