By Sean Cronin
Jean-Claude Seroul's winner machine Skalleti (Fr) (Kendargent {Fr}), fresh from victory over G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe contender Sottsass (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) in August's G3 Prix Gontaut-Biron at Deauville, doubled up in style to garner a second edition of Saturday's G2 Qatar Prix Dollar at ParisLongchamp. Last year's winner was under a firm grip in rear for most of the 10-furlong contest. Making smooth progress along the far-side rail once into the straight, the 6-5 favourite was interrupted by–and negotiated a passage around–the backpeddling pacesetter Raging Storm (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) approaching the furlong marker and quickened smartly under late coaxing to deny Irish raider Patrick Sarsfield (Fr) (Australia {GB}) by 1 1/4 lengths inside the final 100 metres. Aga Khan representative Dariyma (Fr) (City Zip) loomed ominously out wide in the straight, but was unable to press forward in deep mud and finished 2 1/2 lengths further back.
“All you want is for him to get relaxed and deliver his turn of foot,” said trainer Jerome Reynier. “Maxime Guyon gave him the perfect ride. You can have some anxious moments in the straight if the gap doesn't come in time, but Maxime was perfect. On testing ground he is a superior horse and, with time, he has become much more manageable both in the mornings and at the races. I am sure he could stay one-and-a-half miles and if he was not a gelding I would have no doubt run him in the Arc. Now the only top race open to geldings is the [G1] Champion S. [at Ascot]. I anticipated a good run and have arranged for him to stay in Chantilly, rather than return to my Marseille base, and we'll therefore avoid a long journey to England in two weeks. I have my staff there and also shipped a lead horse to keep him company. All will now depend on how he adapts to the new surroundings because he can be easily upset. The time has come for him to face a big challenge and, if he is well, he will go to Ascot.”
Skalleti, recording his fifth pattern-race victory here, is the second foal bred from MGSP Listed Prix Occitanie victrix Skallet (Fr) (Muhaymin). He is a full-brother to Listed Prix du Ranelagh placegetter Skalleto (Fr), Listed La Coupe de Marseille third Skazino (Fr) and a yearling colt. Skallet is the leading performer produced by 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 black-type winners headed by stakes-winning G2 Grosser Hertie-Preis von Deutschland runner-up Silk Stage (Stage Door Johnny), whose descendants include Listed Woodlawn S. victor Termsofengagement (Private Terms).
Saturday, ParisLongchamp, France
QATAR PRIX DOLLAR-G2, €140,000, ParisLongchamp, 10-3, 3yo/up, 9 3/4fT, 2:10.41, hy.
1–SKALLETI (FR), 128, g, 5, 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. €79,800. Lifetime Record: GSW-Ity, 15-12-0-2, €479,350. *Full to Skalleto (Fr), SP-Fr, $152,412; and Skazino (Fr), SP-Fr, $143,937. Werk Nick Rating: F. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Patrick Sarsfield (Fr), 128, c, 4, by Australia (GB)–Ultra Appeal (Ire), by Lawman (Fr). (€140,000 Ylg '17 ARAUG; 230,000gns 3yo '19 TATJUL). O-Mrs C C Regalado-Gonzalez; B-China Horse Club International Ltd (FR); T-Joseph O'Brien. €30,800.
3–Dariyma (Fr), 125, f, 4, City Zip–Darma (Fr), by Danehill Dancer (Ire). O-H H The Aga Khan; B-H H The Aga Khan's Studs SC (FR): T-Alain de Royer-Dupre. €14,700.
Margins: 1 1/4, 2HF, HF. Odds: 1.20, 7.60, 13.00.
Also Ran: Glycon (Fr), Ocean Atlantique, Hurricane Dream (Fr), Subway Dancer (Ire), Raging Storm (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
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