Ralph Beckett-trained filly has kept good company this season.
Skillet, trained by Ralph Beckett, showed her class with a powerful late run to claim victory in the Listed Pequod 20 Years Of Seaworthiness Fortune Stakes at Sandown. The filly, owned by Juddmonte, overcame the challenge of Checkandchallenge, winning by a neck at odds of 100-30.
Listed success 🏆
Skellet digs deep to get the better of her rivals in the Listed Pequod 20 Years Of Seaworthiness Fortune Stakes @Sandownpark 🤩
A double on the day for @RalphBeckett and @HectorCrouch đź‘Ź pic.twitter.com/lMvNH1jigD
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) September 18, 2024
Having faced tough competition earlier in the season in the Irish 1,000 Guineas and Coronation Stakes, Skellet had just missed out on a Group Three win in her last outing at Chantilly in July, where she was caught late by Blush over nine furlongs. However, dropping back to a mile under jockey Hector Crouch, who replaced Rossa Ryan, proved to be the winning formula as she stormed home in style.
Barry Mahon, representing owners Juddmonte, expressed satisfaction with the filly's performance: "Ralph has been happy with her all year, but it’s only recently that she’s really started to thrive. She's a filly with a lot of potential, and it will be interesting to see if she stays in training next year. I believe she still has more to offer."
Mahon also hinted at future international opportunities, noting Skellet's strong performance in France and her adaptability: "I wouldn’t be surprised if we send her back out there, but we’ll see if there’s another race for her this season before making any firm decisions."
In another success for Juddmonte, Cosmic Year made a stunning racecourse debut, winning the Sir Michael Stoute – Farewell And Thank You Novice Stakes by six and a half lengths. Trained by Harry Charlton and ridden by Oisin Murphy, the two-year-old colt, sired by Kingman out of Group One-winning mare Passage Of Time, lived up to his impressive pedigree.
Murphy, pleased with the performance, said: "He’s a lovely horse and handled everything beautifully today. He feels like a horse that could handle seven furlongs, whether that’s this season or next."
Charlton echoed the jockey’s sentiments, adding, "He behaved impeccably, which was the most important thing. It will be up to Juddmonte to decide his next steps, but he certainly has the potential to go on to bigger things."
In the Orbital Veterinary Services EBF Maiden Stakes, Prince Of The Seas, another Beckett-trained horse, confirmed his promise by winning at 5-4 odds. The juvenile justified his favoritism by defeating main rival Wild Nature after a competitive battle. Hector Crouch, who rode the colt, praised his potential: "He’s going to be a lovely staying prospect for next year. I can see him thriving in mile-and-a-half staying handicaps."
