Lazzat fends off Satono Reve to take Jubilee crown
French raider Lazzat broke Japanese hearts as he outbattled Satono Reve in a thrilling international finish to the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot.
Satono Reve was sent off the 2-1 favourite to become the first Japanese winner at the Royal meeting and was travelling powerfully throughout the contest in the hands of Joao Moreira.
However, it was Jerome Reynier's Lazzat, who made every yard in the hands of James Doyle, who stayed on strongest in the closing stages, striking on his first start for owners Wathnan Racing at odds of 9-2 to continue a fine week for both his rider and owners.
There was drama after the finish as Lazzat unshipped Doyle as the pair returned to receive the Ascot applause, with the four-year-old running loose for some time before eventually being caught and safely returned to the stables.
Lazzat was adding a second Group One win to his tally after landing last year's Prix Maurice de Gheest, but he had been beaten in Australia when sent on his travels at the end of the campaign.
Reynier, saddling his first Royal Ascot winner, said: 'He did (win at the top level) as a three-year-old in the Maurice de Gheest in Deauville but after having been all the way to Australia and Hong Kong, I was a bit scared that it was going to be tough to find Lazzat the same as he was but obviously we have been trying him over a mile to open his options, but he's a pure sprinter and we will stick to the sprinting distances over the straight courses for his future.
'That was a pretty tough challenge (from Satono Reve). I've been watching all his races and he's always coming late and he's always running on but James had a really good feeling with the horse and when the Japanese came to him, he put his ears back and tried again and he said there was no way he was going to pass him today.'
Paddy Power cut Lazzat to 7-2 favourite from 8-1 for the July Cup at Newmarket, but Reynier feels that is an unlikely option.
He added: 'The July Cup is coming a little quickly I guess but maybe we'll defend his crown in the Maurice de Gheest, we've got the Sprint Cup and we can be back here in October because he can handle any ground, if the ground is heavy he can do it then as well.
'He's a very good champion. Today everything went right for once and we're happy to have a first Royal Ascot winner, especially for Wathnan and Nurlan Bizakov as a breeder. I'm very happy for the connections involved.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Record
32 minutes ago
- Daily Record
Kyogo gets Celtic tongues wagging with love note as Strelec transfer trigger and Yamada address escalate striker hunt
Business is picking up at Parkhead with Callum Osmand and Bejamin Nygren set to check in Stade Rennes misfit Kyogo Furuhashi has beamed with pride over his time at Celtic with the club searching for a striker. It comes with his future at the Ligue 1 side in major doubt amid reports he could join Birmingham City. The Scottish champions are set to bring in Fulham talent Callum Osmand this summer - and the 19-year-old looks set to be given the chance to stake a first-team claim this summer. He will aim to provide competition for Adam Idah and Daizen Maeda next term - but the search for a frontman doesn't appear to have stopped with the prospect. The Japan international struggled to even make the matchday squad in the final weeks of the season - and has yet to find the net for his new club. Reports in France have suggest a move back to Celtic Park could be on the cards - but Birmingham City appear to be leading the race for the 30-year-old after their return to the English Championship. After making an appearance in front of the crowd at FC Gifu - his first professional team - he reflected on his time at Celtic stating to Japanese media:"I'm proud to have played in that environment.' The Parkhead fan favourite also hinted he may not be rushing for the Rennes exit - despite falling down the pecking order under Habib Beye. He said: 'I may not be as visible as a striker, but I think it's my role to lift up the others and work hard.' A replacement for the Parkhead fan favourite could be on the cards with the door open for David Strelec. He was was the subject of a £7.5m offer from the Hoops in January - with the Slovakian champions holding out for £9million. Strelec wrapped up the campaign with 25 goals to his name and hasn't been shy in opening the door to a Celtic switch. Director of football Robert Vittek admits that the club could be forced to sell this summer, telling Tvnoviny: "Of course, we won't resist if an offer comes that we will accept, but I'd rather not count on it." Celtic are also reportedly keen on Kawasaki Frontale frontman Shin Yamada this summer. But the 25-year-old refused to be drawn on the attention from Glasgow's east end - telling Sponichi:"Right now I want to do my best in the next game." You can get all the news you need on our dedicated Rangers and Celtic pages, and sign up to our newsletters to make sure you never miss a beat throughout the season. We're also on WhatsApp, where we bring all the latest breaking news and transfer gossip directly to your phone. Join our Rangers community here and our Celtic community here.
South Wales Argus
2 hours ago
- South Wales Argus
Goldie cool on idea of Goodwood for American Affair
The Royal Ascot hero is the third generation of the family Goldie has trained, with American Affair's dam, Classy Anne, by Orientor whom Goldie guided with great success. American Affair was, though, Goldie's first ever Group One winner after several near-misses and he now has more big targets in his sights for the Paul Mulrennan-ridden five-year-old. American Affair gets a well-deserved pat from Paul Mulrennan (John Walton/PA) 'It's just started to sink in. He's come out of the race well and he's been out on the gallops yesterday and today,' said Goldie on Sunday. 'The stars aligned, but that is quite often the case with good horses. I still don't think he's quite as good as Orientor was, but I probably had him early enough in my career and I learned a lot from him. Fortunately for me we kept him an entire which looks very shrewd now! 'We learned a lot from the likes of him, Jack Dexter and Hawkeyethenoo. I'm looking forward to seeing where this horse will peak.' Looking to the future Goldie does not believe Goodwood's downhill five furlongs is totally suitable in the King George Stakes. The King with winning rider Paul Mulrennan (Andrew Matthews/PA) 'Five furlongs up a hill at Ascot is the perfect fit for him, I always thought it might be, so I'm not sure Goodwood will suit him going downhill,' he said. 'Otherwise we will wait for York and the Nunthorpe where we might have to take on a two-year-old or two which will be interesting.' Even further afield, American Affair now has an all-expenses paid trip to the Breeders' Cup to look forward to. 'We'll have to have a serious think about the Breeders' Cup if they are going to pay. I can't think of any other horse trained in Scotland to have run at it!' said Goldie.
Leader Live
3 hours ago
- Leader Live
Goldie cool on idea of Goodwood for American Affair
The Royal Ascot hero is the third generation of the family Goldie has trained, with American Affair's dam, Classy Anne, by Orientor whom Goldie guided with great success. American Affair was, though, Goldie's first ever Group One winner after several near-misses and he now has more big targets in his sights for the Paul Mulrennan-ridden five-year-old. 'It's just started to sink in. He's come out of the race well and he's been out on the gallops yesterday and today,' said Goldie on Sunday. 'The stars aligned, but that is quite often the case with good horses. I still don't think he's quite as good as Orientor was, but I probably had him early enough in my career and I learned a lot from him. Fortunately for me we kept him an entire which looks very shrewd now! 'We learned a lot from the likes of him, Jack Dexter and Hawkeyethenoo. I'm looking forward to seeing where this horse will peak.' Looking to the future Goldie does not believe Goodwood's downhill five furlongs is totally suitable in the King George Stakes. 'Five furlongs up a hill at Ascot is the perfect fit for him, I always thought it might be, so I'm not sure Goodwood will suit him going downhill,' he said. 'Otherwise we will wait for York and the Nunthorpe where we might have to take on a two-year-old or two which will be interesting.' Even further afield, American Affair now has an all-expenses paid trip to the Breeders' Cup to look forward to. 'We'll have to have a serious think about the Breeders' Cup if they are going to pay. I can't think of any other horse trained in Scotland to have run at it!' said Goldie.
