Darley’s leading French-based sire Slickly reached a notable landmark with his first Group 1 winner on Bastille Day.  

The Famille Rothschild homebred Meandre reached the elite level for his sire with a decisive victory in the Grand Prix de Paris (2400m) at Longchamp.

Meandre (3c Slickly – Penne by Sevres Rose) emulated his sire who won the same race for owner Jean-Luc Lagardere and trainer Andre Fabre in 1999.

Fabre also prepares Meandre and the colt was coming off priors in the Prix Comrade (2110m) at Maisons-Laffitte and LR Prix de l’Avre (2400m).  “He doesn’t do so much in the mornings,” Fabre noted after paying a late entry fee for the winner.  “But he does on the track and I thought he would run well.”

Bookmakers were impressed with the victory and Coral reacted by reducing his Arc de Triomphe quote from $41 to $8.

The Aidan O’Brien trained pair Seville and Treasure Beach cut out a quick pace in front of French Derby winner Reliable Man and Meandre.

Ballydoyle’s Galileo colts had dominated the Irish Derby but they had no answer when Meandre hit top gear.  He flew past the fading stablemates to win eased down by seven lengths.

Slickly stands for a 7,000 euros fee under the Darley banner at Haras du Logis in France.  Other sires at the Normandy nursery include former Australian residents King’s Best and Country Reel and NZ shuttler Librettist.

Slickly (Linamix) retired to stud in 2003 and has sired 115 winners at a 52% strike-rate.  His initial G1 winner is the first foal out of stakes performer Penne.  The dam is a daughter of the Rothschild-bred stallion Sevres Rose, a lightly used son of Caerleon and the family’s Prix Vermeille winner Indian Rose.