11 April 2021
Photo scoopdyga.com
Sunday, April 11, 2021, ParisLongchamp Racecourse (Paris). - Skalleti (Kendargent)'s performance at Saint-Cloud for his comeback in the Prix Exbury (Gr3) had been so impressive that everybody was expecting him to win again at ParisLongchamp in the €130,000 Prix d’Harcourt (Gr2), run over the same distance and very soft ground that the grey seems to relish. Owned by Jean-Claude Seroul, bred by Guy Pariente and trained by Jérôme Reynier, he has indeed obliged his many supporters since he won again, but by a length only, and after causing a brief scare in the final stretch. Gerald Mossé, who was riding him for the first time, had held him in the rear. With his 1-draw, there weren't many other courses of action to take, but the veteran rider still bid his time and it looked as if it was getting more and more difficult to catch a resolute Mare Australis (Australia), who wasn't waiting for anyone to show up. One in full gear, however, Skalleti was able to catch the André Fabre-trained 4-year-old, who hadn't run for almost 6 months. The front-running Monty (Motivator), also trained by Jérôme Reynier, bravely held on third.
The next test for these aged horses would be the €300,000 Prix Ganay (Gr1), run over 2,100m (or 10.5f) on May 2 on this course, that is in three weeks.
Sold € 85,000 at the Deauville sales to Seroul's bloodstock advisor Alain Decrion, Skalleti is out of Skallet (Muhaymin), a Listed winner at Bordeaux. She also gave Skalleto (Kendargent), Listed-placed for Guy Pariente and a 4-year-old gelding Skazino (Kendargent), winner of 8 races. A Kendargent colt was born in 2019.