Harcourt: Skalleti dazzles ParisLongchamp again

April 10, 2022, ParisLongchamp Racecourse (Paris). - Third at Saint-Cloud for his seasonal comeback in the Prix Exbury (Gr3), 7-year-old gelding Skalleti (Kendargent) could have had lost a bit of his magic after 19 races, and it looked as if once again, he'd be unable to produce the dazzling show he's entertained racing fans throughout Europe the last few campaigns, as he was boxed in behind a wall of challengers, as if he wouldn't be able to prevail again over the Prix d’Harcourt (Gr2)'s ten furlongs-trip, a race he'd won for trainer Jérôme Reynier last year 2021. Luckily, Maxime Guyon gave his mount a chance to extend himself and soon after that, Skalleti showed his best again and did his magic. He passed the field in full swing and won easily by three parts of a length. Sealiway (Galiway), Back from an expedition in Saudi, took second place with another impressive effort, beating the front-running Mare Australis (Australia), who'd been out for 11 months.

There is room for another clash at the top on May 1st in the Prix Ganay (Gr1), unless the winner's connections, like in 2021, the winning connections decide to aim the grey at the Prix d’Ispahan (Gr1) over 1,850 metres.

According to the sectional timing report, if Skalleti did cover the last 3 furlongs faster than every other runner, he found a faster horse over the second last furlong, and that is Sealiway, with a 10’’74-long dash, against Skalleti's 10’’87, when he still hadn't left the 6th place! The winner is the only one under 11’’ in the last furlong though.

Sold for €85,000 at Deauville to owner Jean-Claude Seroul's bloodstock advisor Alain Decrion, Skalleti is out of Skallet (Muhaymin), a Listed-winner at Bordeaux. She also gave Skalleto (Kendargent), a Listed-placed for owner Guy Pariente. Also a gelding, her 6-year-old 6-year-old Skazino (Kendargent) won 12 races including the Prix Vicomtesse Vigier (Gr2) and the Prix Kergorlay (Gr2), and finished second in the Prix Royal-Oak (Gr1) in 2021. A colt, Skalli (Kendargent), now 3 and gelded too, and still unraced but in training with Pascal Bary.