Deserved top-level win for Kendargent as Skalleti lands thrilling Prix d'Ispahan

Skalleti, a multiple Group 2-winning son of Haras de Colleville stalwart Kendargent, went one step beyond on Sunday to provide his sire with a richly deserved first Group 1 winner.

The six-year-old got up in the last strides to deny British raider Tilsit in a thrilling finish to the Prix d'Ispahan at Longchamp.

A high-class performer over the past few seasons, the likeable and consistent grey had come close to top-level success when second to Addeybb in the Champion Stakes at Ascot last October and swooped late to deny Juddmonte's homebred son of First Defence and Dubawi colt My Oberon in a three-way photo finish.

Bred by Haras de Colleville's Guy Pariente, so giving the stud double cause for celebration, the gelding sold to Alain Decrion for €85,000 at the 2016 Arqana Yearling Sale in Deauville and won twice at three.

At four, Skalleti wracked up a number of wins, including in the Prix Dollar, Premio Roma and Prix Quincey Barriere. Placed on his first two starts at five, including when third behind the top-class Persian King in the Prix du Muguet, he once again won the Prix Dollar and then saw off the subsequent Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe hero Sottsass in the Prix Gontaut-Biron.

Skalleti had struck on his first two starts this term, including when denying subsequent Prix Ganay winner Mare Australis in the Prix d'Harcourt and was notching up an impressive 15th success in 20 starts.

He is the second foal out of the Listed-winning Muhaymin mare Skallet and is a full-brother to Skazino, a recent winner of the Prix Vicomtesse Vigier, and the stakes-placed Skalleto.

Pariente was the leading French breeder last year, when he put an end to the domination of two great French studs, those of the Aga Khan and the Wertheimer brothers, whose farms had shared first place without interruption since 2008, thanks largely to the number of horses both can call on being in excess of 100 each season.

Pariente got the better of them with 'only' 76 individual runners, nine of which won at Listed or Group level, including of course Skalleti.

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