Lazzat produces a fine finish to deny Satono Reve in Ascot thriller
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 (at Haydock) and we can be back here in October (Qipco British Champions Sprint) 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."
Reflecting on Lazzat's post-race antics, Reynier said: "I was too happy to throw the winning sheet on him, he got a bit spooky and he obviously wasn't too tired after the race so he said 'let's have a spin around the track'!
"We were so proud of him and wanted to be out on the track with him, but James was saying 'hi' to the crowd and was not paying attention maybe to what he was going to do.
"He's a funny character, that is why he is Lazzat and he is our champion."
While Deauville, Haydock and a return to Ascot look like being on Lazzat's short-to-medium term agenda, the trainer also has one eye on what would be a mouthwatering clash with Hong Kong's superstar sprinter Ka Ying Rising before the end of 2025.
He added: "I would love to take him on one day. Let him fight in The Everest and all the big challenges he's got this year and maybe at the end of the year we can take him on in his home town at Sha Tin in the Hong Kong Sprint, why not?
"If he can win two or three more Group Ones this year he'll definitely be the best sprinter in Europe and that would be a good thing."
Doyle, riding his fourth winner of the week, said: "He just spooked at the winner's sheet and got loose for 15 minutes or so - not ideal, is it, but it shows he had a fair bit left! He's a quality horse.
"What a horse race with the Japanese horse coming to join me near the line, and he really pinned his ears back and attacked the line, so he's got some talent and he wasn't going to get beaten today.
"That was a first for me (being unseated like that), and it was a shame because it would have been nice to be able to come in with the horse, not by myself, but there we go. I did apologise to the King and Queen when I went to collect my prize and said I should have stayed in Pony Club a bit longer than I did, and we had a good laugh about that.
"This was the one we wanted - it's a proper race and we've got a proper horse on our hands."
PA
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
RTÉ News
3 hours ago
- RTÉ News
Kalpana attempting to beat the boys in King George
Kalpana returns to the scene of her finest hour for a mouthwatering renewal of the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes. Andrew Balding's charge rounded off her three-year-old campaign with Group One success over the course and distance on Champions Day and has not done much wrong in two starts since, finishing third in the Tattersalls Gold Cup and then second in the Pretty Polly Stakes in Ireland. Back on home soil, Kalpana is the only filly in a field of five, with Oisin Murphy deputising in the saddle for the suspended Colin Keane. Barry Mahon, racing manager for owner-breeders Juddmonte, said: "We're all set for Saturday, I think we were hoping for a bit more rain than has actually fallen, but it is what it is and I'm sure it'll be nice ground on the day. "It's a top-class renewal, as you would expect for such a good race, but we're looking forward to partaking in it." Juddmonte's Bluestocking found only Goliath too strong in last year's King George before going on to win the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe in the colours of the late Khalid Abdullah, who also claimed Ascot's midsummer highlight with Dancing Brave and superstar mare Enable, the latter on three occasions. Both of those equine greats also landed Europe's premier middle-distance contest, Enable doing so in successive years in 2017 and 2018, and a potential trip to Paris in early October has already been pencilled in for Kalpana ahead of what connections admit is a stern test this weekend. "Rebel's Romance is such a legend of a horse and Calandagan and Jan Brueghel are obviously very, very talented," Mahon added. "We think going back up to a mile and a half will suit our filly and Andrew said she worked well on Wednesday morning and he's very happy with her, so we're hopeful that her first two runs have set her up nicely for this." The top two in the market are Jan Brueghel and Calandagan, who renew rivalry after finishing first and second in the Coronation Cup at Epsom in early June. While Calandagan has since broken his top-level duck in the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud, Jan Brueghel has been kept fresh by Aidan O'Brien and is interestingly fitted with cheekpieces for the first time as he bids to provide his trainer with a fifth King George success. O'Brien, who also saddles the rank outsider and probable pacemaker Continuous, said: "Jan Brueghel is good, everything has gone well since the last day. "It will be an interesting race and the ground looks like it's going to be nice. "Continuous rolls along usually and he'll go forward, but if someone else wants to go on (and make the running), he'll be happy too." Francis Henri-Graffard's Calandagan has already shown his liking for Ascot, dominating his rivals in the King Edward VII Stakes at the Royal meeting last summer before finishing a close second to Anmaat in October's Champion Stakes. Buoyed by his long-awaited first Group One success on home soil four weeks ago, connections are excited to be heading back to Berkshire. Nemone Routh, racing manager for owners the Aga Khan Studs in France, said: "The horse is in very good form, he took his win at Saint-Cloud very well. I spoke with Mickael Barzalona who rode him in his last piece of work and he's very happy with him. "It's a small field, but he has to take on Jan Brueghel again and obviously Rebel's Romance was impressive last time out. "He doesn't have much ground to make up on Jan Brueghel and although they were calling the ground good to soft at Epsom, we felt it was riding softer that day. He handles softer ground so we can't use that as an excuse, but I just think maybe his acceleration is a a bit more decisive on firmer ground. "When it becomes a heavy-duty slugging match I'm not sure that's really his game, but when he can use his acceleration on good, fast ground I think that's when he's at his best." The small but select field is completed by Rebel's Romance, who has won seven Group Ones on foreign soil and bids to break his top-level duck at home following his course-and-distance success in last month's Hardwicke Stakes. Speaking on the Godolphin website, trainer Charlie Appleby said: "Rebel's Romance goes into this in great order. There was plenty of strength in depth in this contest 12 months ago, when he ran a good race (finished third), and it looks a similarly strong renewal this time around. "He is taking on younger opposition again but, wherever he finishes, the others will know that they have had a race."
The Irish Sun
3 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Horse racing tips: This 92-1 each-way double is worth a go on King George day at Ascot
SUN Racing goes hunting some big-price winners on a busy Saturday of action. Back a horse by clicking their odds below. Advertisement LONGSHOT KODI LION (3.00 Ascot) He has an excellent record over this course and distance and has performed in a big field. He can go well again for trainer Mick Appleby. EACH-WAY THIEF Advertisement ROYAL DRESS (2.20 Ascot) She looked well up to this level when winning a Listed race at Pontefract last time. There's more to come. HICKORY (3.35 Ascot) He's a hold-up horse so will need some luck in running but Jamie Spencer can steer him into the first four at a track he likes. Advertisement Most read in Horse Racing FREE BETS - GET THE BEST SIGN UP DEALS AND RACING OFFERS Commercial content notice: Taking one of the offers featured in this article may result in a payment to The Sun. You should be aware brands pay fees to appear in the highest placements on the page. 18+. T&Cs apply. . Remember to gamble responsibly A responsible gambler is someone who: Establishes time and monetary limits before playing Only gambles with money they can afford to lose Never chases their losses Doesn't gamble if they're upset, angry or depressed Gamcare – Gamble Aware – Find our detailed guide on responsible gambling practices here.
Irish Times
3 hours ago
- Irish Times
Jan Brueghel and Calandagan promise another memorable King George head-to-head
It's 50 years to the day since Ascot's King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes threw up the 'Race of the Century', and while Saturday's renewal isn't a classic renewal of British racing's midsummer highlight, it does hold the promise of another finish for the ages. It's not a classic King George scenario because no three-year-olds are taking on the handful of older runners that line up. Much of the appeal of that legendary Grundy vs Bustino clash from 1975 was the intergenerational element, which was part of the original race brief. But just two winners from the Classic generation in the last decade underlines how times have changed. Ultimately, though, the main reason that King George still resonates is the head-to-head factor. It's also why last month's Coronation Cup clash between Ireland's Jan Brueghel and France's Calandagan was so memorable. And now the pair go at it again in the richest race ever run at Ascot. The Godolphin team, with their globetrotting stalwart Rebels Romance, and Juddmonte, who pitch in the filly Kalpana, will fancy their chances of upsetting any duopoly. Nevertheless, there may be no more apt anniversary moment than another 'mano a mano' clash between the two horses that duked it out so memorably at Epsom. Aidan O'Brien has skipped the opportunity to do what once would have been almost preordained and isn't running his dual-Derby hero Lambourn. That was the route that O'Brien's first King George winner and Lambourn's legendary grandsire, Galileo, followed in 2001. There have been three more O'Brien-trained winners of the race since then, all older horses, and Jan Brueghel is another that looks to be maturing with time into a top middle-distance performer. He was one of Galileo's final Classic winners when victorious in last year's St Leger at Doncaster, but that Coronation Cup triumph took his form to another level again. If Calandagan looked the likely winner for much of that race, O'Brien's tactical aim to draw the French star into a final furlong arm-wrestle worked out perfectly. Jan Brueghel will be equipped with first-time cheekpieces on this occasion. Photograph: Inpho Briefly headed by Calandagan, Jan Brueghel's stamina eventually kicked in on the prevailing easy conditions and after a memorable duel he won out by half a length. Plenty of the post-race focus was on the runner-up's resolution or supposed lack thereof. Even jockey Mickael Barzalona got it in the neck in some quarters, although it was hard to see what else he could have done. Subsequently, the partnership got it spot on in the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud where routing last year's Arc runner-up Aventure. Even further behind them was the 2024 King George winner Goliath. After a series of runner-up placings, it was a timely first Group One for Calandagan and if it indicated once again that he's a rather one-dimensional runner in having to be played late, the pay-off can be a devastating finishing burst. That turns this King George into a fascinating tactical quandary. Half a century ago, it was hell for leather from the start, whereas so much of this race could revolve around Jan Brueghel's stable companion Continuous. The 2023 Leger victor is again on pacemaker duties and fills out a field of proven Group One winners. He has been slowly away in some of his recent races, but on the back of having helped draw Calandgan's sting at Epsom, it would be a surprise if the same approach doesn't occur. What's different is much quicker ground and a track around which Calandagan has proven winning form, as do Rebel's Romance and Kalpana. It's a new test for Jan Brueghel and significantly he is equipped with first-time cheekpieces. The pay-off should the Irish horse win will be significant. At £1.5 million (more than €1.7 million), it is the richest race ever run at the famous track. Sixty-seven years after Ballymoss first won for Ireland, Jan Brueghel would be the 13th King George winner from this country. He would be the first since Daylami in 1999 to pull off the Coronation Cup – King George double in the same year. Five others have managed it too. And the colt would also be a first Leger winner to score since Conduit in 2009. Ryan Moore rode him, and Jan Brueghel has the English man on his back. Oisín Murphy has yet to win in three rides on Kalpana but teams up with the filly in Colin Keane's absence due to suspension. Victory for the Kerry man would provide a redemptive story considering the upheaval he's been involved with off the track in recent months. But the storyline that so many will hope to see is another dramatic finish to conjure memories of that 1975 King George epic. Round Two of last month's Coronation Cup would fit the bill nicely. On this occasion, though, it could be worth betting on some Calandagan revenge.
