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Skalleti bids for first Group One in Prix d'Ispahan

3 minute read

Reynier’s prolific grey must adapt to forecast quicker ground at ParisLongchamp.

Skalleti
Skalleti Picture: Pat Healy Photography

Skalleti  will try to extend his winning sequence to three, as well as securing a first Group One victory, in Sunday's Prix d'Ispahan at ParisLongchamp.

Jerome Reynier's charge boasts an impressive strike rate of 14 victories in his 19 starts, showing a particular affinity for testing conditions in winning seven times in Group Two or Three company.

The six-year-old was pitched into the highest level when a creditable second to Addeybb in last year's Champion Stakes at Ascot, while he was seventh of eight runners in a tight finish to the Hong Kong Cup at Sha Tin on his final run of 2020.

Skalleti shrugged off those international exertions to win on his return at Saint-Cloud in March and then ParisLongchamp in April – and Reynier hopes another visit to the latter venue this weekend can yield a first Group One victory, despite the grey perhaps not having his optimal conditions.

The trainer told Sky Sports Racing: "We were quite worried earlier in the year when he came back from Hong Kong, because it was a long journey and a tough race.

"We gave him a long holiday, and he was really long to come back at his best.

"Just prior to the Prix Exbury (at Saint-Cloud), he was starting to show us he was coming back in good shape – so we didn't expect him to win it the way that he did. He did it very easily on heavy ground.

"Three weeks later the conditions were about the same in Longchamp, so we went for the Prix d'Harcourt, and he won in good style as well – again on soft ground.

"Three weeks later the Prix Ganay was coming up a bit too soon for him on firm ground. So we said it's better to be safe, and we didn't run him, and we were hoping for some better conditions.

"On Sunday I think the better race will suit him. The distance is maybe on the short side, and the ground will be on the firm side for him. But he seems to be in very good shape, and we are happy with him, so we have to try.

"He finished third in the Prix du Muguet last summer, behind Persian King. He ran a good race that day on good ground, so he's able to deliver some good performances on that ground as well – we're hoping he'll be able to do so on Sunday."

William Haggas' My Oberon and the Charlie Hills-trained Tilsit are still in contention for Sunday's nine-furlong heat, along with the likes of The Revenant and Victor Ludorum.


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