Skellet claims her first victory at stakes level

Ralph Beckett’s scintillating run of good form continued at Sandown as Kingman filly Skellet put it up to her elders in the Listed Fortune Stakes over a mile yesterday (18th September).

Taken from the European Bloodstock News, 19th September 2024:

Highly tried for such a lightly raced filly, she travelled sweetly under Hector Crouch, held up but in touch with the field. Switched out wide to launch her challenge, she moved into contention with ease but still had the accomplished and battle-hardened Checkandchallenge to overcome. Engaging in battle, the runner-up showed enough tenacity to require maximum effort from the winner, who duly dug deep to prevail by a neck. The talented but equally frustrating Cash came with a threatening run down the outside, but eventually ran out of time to finish a never-nearer third, a further half-length behind.

This was Skellet’s first victory since landing a valuable fillies’ maiden over 7seven furlongs at Salisbury on her second start at two. She stepped up markedly in grade on her third and final start as a juvenile, finishing a neck second to Dance Sequence in the Gr.3 Oh So Sharp Stakes. Returning in the Gr.1 Irish 1,000 Guineas, she ran creditably to finish eighth, beaten six and a half lengths by Fallen Angel and was beaten a similar distance in the Gr.1 Coronation Stakes by the leading miler PortaFortuna. Dropping down to Gr.3 company in the Prix Chloe at Chantilly, she found only one too good when second, beaten a head, to Blush, also by Kingman, who is amidst a remarkable season - this pair are two of 18 individual stakes winners this term, 11 of those at Group level.