Lazzat fends off Satono Reve to take Jubilee crown
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.
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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.'
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The 42
3 hours ago
- The 42
'Coming from Munster, it's all you want to do. It's such a proud club'
IT'S A FRESH, bright weekday morning in Melbourne and the city is alive with people bustling to work. As the rush goes on outside, Alex McHenry is sitting in a quiet hotel lobby, taking a moment to pause and reflect. The former Munster centre will be in the office soon himself, but he's good enough to explain how he has come to live here. At the age of 27, McHenry is an ex-professional rugby player, but there wasn't any dramatic retirement. He came to Australia 12 months ago for an adventure and he's had no reason to go home yet. The Cork man reckons he'll stay for another few years. He's still playing rugby in Melbourne with the superbly-named Power House in the Dewar Shield, the highest level of the club game in this neck of the woods. It was rugby that partly brought him to Australia in the first place, McHenry making a big impact as he helped Easts to win the Shute Shield in Sydney last year. McHenry finished up with Pro D2 side Dax at the end of the 2023/24 season and had spoken to a few other French clubs before he caught wind of Easts needing a centre. His older brother, Jack, was already living in Bondi and McHenry knew a few others in Sydney. Two weeks after chatting to Easts for the first time, they were flying him Down Under. It was only supposed to be for two or three months, but McHenry left knowing that it might be longer. 'It's funny because I was packing my bags to go, and my mum said, 'Why are you packing so much?' and I was like, 'If I really enjoy this, I'm staying.' And he loved it. McHenry moved in with former Munster scrum-half Jack Stafford, who was already playing for Manly in the Shute Shield, and Wexford man Barry O'Connor, who played for the AFL's Sydney Swans. Alex McHenry playing for Easts in Sydney. Easts Rugby Easts Rugby McHenry made a big impact on the pitch, helping Easts to end their 55-year drought by winning the Shute Shield. The Irish centre played with the likes of Charlie Gamble, who impressed against the Lions twice recently, and Waratahs wing Darby Lancaster. And away from rugby, he got stuck in too. McHenry's cousin moved to Sydney 15 years ago and runs a construction company, so he got a job there for six months. 'It was the most humbling thing ever, concreting motorways,' says McHenry. 'I walked onto the site one day and the lads were like, 'You're not cut out for this, your hands are too soft to be here,' but that was a bit of craic and got you by in the off-season.' Just three weeks after he arrived in Sydney, McHenry got a contract offer from third-tier French club Rouen. He had enjoyed his time with Dax and weighed up Roeun's offer, but decided to stay in Sydney. 'I was like, 'Do I keep on chasing this?' I just kind of came to the stage in my career where, yes, you could go back, but you're probably taking a contract that's not worth that much money and it's like, how long are you prolonging the inevitable? 'It was a difficult decision and you probably had sleepless nights over it and still do, but I'm happy with the decision I made.' Advertisement One of the other reasons Australia was so attractive was that McHenry's partner, Louise, was already there. McHenry won the Shute Shield with Easts. Easts Rugby Easts Rugby She was down in Melbourne working as a chemical engineer and so, when the Shute Shield season ended with Easts, McHenry made the move south. They've been together for years, but this is their first time living together. Having seen him move from Munster to Wasps on loan, then onto Jersey Reds and Dax, Louise had decided to do her own thing and head Down Under. Happily, Alex joined her. He now works with tech software company Workvivo, which was founded in Cork in 2017, acquired by Zoom in 2023, has an office in Sydney, but allows McHenry to work remotely from Melbourne. Having earned an economics degree from UCC at the encouragement of his mother, it feels like a better fit than the construction site. Melbourne is also a brilliant city for anyone into their sport. Rugby union in Melbourne isn't as strong as in Sydney and other Australian cities, especially since the demise of the Rebels, but McHenry is enjoying playing with Power House, who have a huge number of Irish players including former Ireland U18 international Cian McGovern. 'It's funny, our changing rooms are in the Grand Prix pit lanes [at Albert Park], so you come out the door and you see where the cars pull in for their pit stops,' says McHenry. 'Power House is a great club. There's a massive Irish connection there. There's a real family element to the club. It's a step down [from Shute Shield] and has that social element, which is good. 'You probably do miss the higher level, but in terms of club, it's been brilliant.' McHenry in action for Power House in Melbourne. Power House Power House It's a world away from Munster. McHenry came through Christian Brothers College and Cork Constitution, played for the Ireland U20s in 2017 and earned a place in the Munster academy. He was highly rated and though he earned three senior caps, it just never quite happened for McHenry under Johann van Graan. There were times when it looked like McHenry might kick on but with Damian de Allende and Chris Farrell having the centre spots locked down, it was tough. McHenry's only hint of regret is that he didn't have a bit more of a vicious edge in training, but it was a frustrating time as he watched close friends like Shane Daly, Gavin Coombes, and Calvin Nash kicking on. 'I was annoyed because I wasn't playing. You feel like you can offer something and that didn't happen but you make your peace with those sorts of things. 'I had some brilliant years in Munster as well. I'd say I could be one of the most capped A players ever! But you grow up with a group of lads and I'm delighted to see lots of my academy group have pushed on to be internationals now.' His debut for Munster away to Benetton in 2019 when he was still in the academy was the big highlight of that time. McHenry was over in the US with Munster A for the one-off Cara Cup competition when he was called home early to go onto the bench for the trip to Treviso. It should have been purely exciting, but McHenry ended up dealing with lots of stress. 'Because of all the travel, my hips got really tight and they locked up,' he says with a smile. McHenry with Damian de Allende. James Crombie / INPHO James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO 'I was crocked before the match but they're like, 'Whatever you do now, don't pull out because you're going to get on the pitch, you'll get your debut.' 'I got 90 seconds off the bench, but it was massive, playing with those lads that you grew up with. Coming from Munster, it's all you want to do. It's such a proud club and it's boyhood dream kind of stuff.' His parents, John and Sylvia, were watching back in Cork with Daly's parents. Daly scored his first Munster try as McHenry got his debut. McHenry's parents still have a champagne cork from that night. They're currently over in Melbourne to visit him and Louise, as well as take in the second Lions Test today. 'They give so much,' says McHenry of his parents. 'They came to Jersey a couple of times and they came to Dax last year with my aunt and uncle. They kept being like, 'What's the next trip?'' Now, they're all enjoying Australia. Jack has settled in Sydney, where he plays 'subbies' rugby, and youngest brother Harry has just finished university in Cork. The McHenrys lived in Kildare until Alex was 11 because John, a professional golfer, worked at the K Club but they 'thankfully saw some wisdom' and moved back to Cork, where rugby took over. Playing for Munster was a dream come true, then McHenry played for Wasps on loan in 2021 before joining Jersey when he left his native province in 2022. Sadly, both English clubs ended up going bust. McHenry with his good friend Shane Daly. Laszlo Geczo / INPHO Laszlo Geczo / INPHO / INPHO Playing with Dax in the Pro D2 was another fantastic experience for McHenry, who couldn't get over the sight of the club's players smoking cigarettes outside the gym, with the S&C coach sometimes joining them. The rugby was ferocious and fun. Now, he's loving life in Australia. He's had a couple of clubs in Sydney getting in touch and a return to the Shute Shield is possibly on the cards next year. Getting back to that semi-professional level would be welcome. Yet McHenry is slowly starting to feel at ease looking back on his days as a pro rugby player. 'You do have those nights when you relay conversations and think how things could have gone. But that's almost a toxic way to be thinking. I've gotten better over the last few months, I'm really happy with life. 'I've a good job. I want to start saving money to buy a house, or build a family, or to set myself up financially moving forward. Rugby probably wasn't going to do that for me. Not that it's all about finances, but that is important. 'You do your bit, you give your best, but then it comes to this age where you know plenty of lads who do kind of f*ck about and then they're 33 or 34 and going into an entry-level salary. 'It was the right time for me.'
The Irish Sun
12 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Horse racing tips: ‘He will finish like a train' – Templegate's BIG 22-1 NAP and 1-2-3 King George prediction at Ascot
TEMPLEGATE tackles a monster Saturday of racing confident of bashing the bookies. The big race of the day is the King George from Ascot at 4.10pm - back a horse by clicking their odds below and check out this Advertisement SWORD (3.00 Ascot, nap) Looks sharp in the big £150,000 International Handicap. He struck at Leicester earlier this summer before going close in hot company at Haydock. David O'Meara's hope was unlucky at York last time and will be finishing strongly. The bottom weight was unlucky at York last time and looks ideal for this trip on quick ground. Needs a bit of luck coming late but has enough quality. CALANDAGAN (4.10 Ascot, nb) He has finally lost his nearly horse tag thanks to a blistering Group 1 win at St Cloud last time out. With that win under his belt he can turn the tables on Jan Brueghel who narrowly outmuscled him in the Coronation Cup at Epsom last time. That track clearly didn't suit the French raider who went down by just half a length in the end. He was a sparkling winner of the King Edward VII here last year so course and distance are ideal. Read on for my King George 1-2-3 prediction. Advertisement ALMAQAM (2.40 York, treble) He looks hard to beat after his impressive effort at Sandown last time out in May. He got the better of Ombudsman in the Brigadier Gerard and he went on to frank the form in style at Royal Ascot. This trip is ideal and some cut in the ground suits too. Templegate's TV verdicts ASCOT Advertisement Most read in Horse Racing 1.40 FITZELLA ran a cracker in the Albany here when she was much the best of the high-drawn horses and those up with the pace early. That was just her third run, and the daughter of Too Darn Hot already boasts a dominant Haydock maiden win, where she powered clear. The Dubawi filly is sister to Breeders' Cup hero Space Blues so is bred to be top class. She could improve significantly. Advertisement Bella Lyra also brings Listed form to the table, having gone down narrowly in a strong Newmarket contest. Her smooth Windsor win before that was eye-catching and Ryan Moore keeps the ride. Amberia and Argentine Tango are closely tied in with Bella Lyra and have place claims. 2.20 Advertisement JANCIS ran a stormer last time out in the Group 1 Pretty Polly at The Curragh, finishing fifth behind top-class Whirl and staying on nicely. She already has a Group 3 success on her CV from last season and dropping back to a mile holds no fears. Royal Dress is a big player after a dominant Listed win at Pontefract and she's shown her best over this distance. All ground suits and she won't be far away. Advertisement Chantilly Lace brings strong Royal Ascot form from the Coronation where she still looked green after just three runs. The fact she was in that race shows what Ralph Beckett thinks of her and this should be easier. Cajole was just a length away in a Sandown Listed race last time and likes quick ground. The booking of William Buick for the Gosdens takes the eye. Advertisement Lou Lou's Gift needed the run at Chelmsford after a year off and could nick a place. 3.00 SWORD looks sharp in the £150,000 International Handicap (3.00 Ascot). He struck at Leicester earlier this summer before going close in hot company at Haydock. Advertisement David O'Meara's hope was unlucky at York last time and will be finishing strongly. Akkadian Thunder, Aalto and Kodi Lion look the biggest dangers. Here's my big-race guide and rating out of five, with one the worst and five the best: ZOUM ZOUM 2 Advertisement ZOUM raider. Listed second earlier this season but faded in the Wokingham and stamina a worry over this trip in a strongly-run race. CITY HOUSE 1 SIN City. Tidy Bahrain record but poor UK form and needs cheekpieces to work wonders. ARRAY 3 Advertisement RAY of hope. Group 2 win last season on soft but form has dipped a little. Stays and may do better in hcap. NORTHERN EXPRESS 3 EXPRESS delivery. Won this last year and shaped well at Haydock last time. Solid chance from 2lb lower. GOLDEN MIND 2 Advertisement MIND games. Consistent in early season but poor in the Wokingham last time. Good claimer on but needs more. GALERON 3 ON the hunt. Well handicapped on past Group form and shaped better than result last time. Place say. AKKADIAN THUNDER 4 Advertisement THUNDER clap. Excellent second in the Buckingham Palace and no luck last time. Can produce another late surge and hit the frame. OLIVER SHOW 2 NO Show. Three AW wins last year and close second in the Lincoln before a poor run ehre latest. Needs best. YORKSHIRE 3 Advertisement YORK talk. Fair run in Buckingham Palace and 1lb lower now. Likes it quick and can't be ignored. FRESH 3 GET Fresh. Won this in 2022 off 3lb higher and fitter for his comeback at Newcastle. Veteran but in place hunt. CERULEAN BAY 2 Advertisement NAY Bay. In and out this year and below form in big handicaps. Needs more from this pretty lofty mark. NOBLE TRUTH 2 TRUTH or dare. Group winner in his prime but out of sorts this season and difficult to fancy despite falling handicap mark. BILLYJOH 3 Advertisement GO Joh. Running well in major handicaps and Bunbury Cup third reads well so place claims again if pace collapses. KODI LION 4 LION roars. Impressive in a big field at Haydock and has good C&D form. Had excuses last time and should go close. QAZAQ 3 Advertisement ZAQ attack. Cracking AW record and some promise over this trip at HQ last time. Can do better. AALTO 4 AALTO play for. Stormed home when second in Bunbury Cup and runs off same mark. Trip suits and William Buick takes over. LORD BERTIE 2 Advertisement LORD help him. Has run well here before but recent form is poor and this looks tough. TWO TRIBES 2 TWO much. Long losing run but promise over this trip at HQ latest. This is tougher. CLASSIC 3 Advertisement HAS Class. Ran well to land nice prize at Sandown last time over a mile. Drop in trip not ideal but a repeat could see him place. PALS BATTALION 1 NO Punter's Pal. Won on AW in spring but turf efforts have been poor this season. Hard to fancy. AL AMEEN 1 Advertisement AL pass. Useful AW form and best over this trip but has sights raised here. SWORD 5 MIGHTY Sword. Bottom weight was unlucky at York last time and looks ideal for this trip on quick ground. Needs a bit of luck coming late but has enough quality. 3.35 Advertisement BOPEDRO is a consistent performer at this level and he ran another massive race when less than a length away at York last time. His last Ascot run saw him go close in the Royal Hunt Cup so this straight mile is right up his street. He has plenty of weight but should be right there. Bullet Point sets the standard after his second in the Hunt Cup on top of three wins. Advertisement A 3lb rise is fair and he'll go close for William Haggas albeit at a fairly skinny price. Teroomm met with real traffic problems in the Buckingham Palace here last time but had been in fine form earlier and could easily bounce back. All-weather winner Cosi Bello went close on his turf debut at Chester and is another in the mix along with Supido who ran well in the Britannia. 4.10 Advertisement CALANDAGAN has finally lost his nearly horse tag thanks to a blistering Group 1 win at St Cloud last time out. With that win under his belt he can turn the tables on Jan Brueghel who narrowly outmuscled him in the Coronation Cup at Epsom last time. That track clearly didn't suit the French raider who went down by just half a length in the end. He was a sparkling winner of the King Edward VII here last year so course and distance are ideal. Advertisement Jan Breughel is the one to fear again given he comes here fresher having not run since Epsom. He is a strong stayer but it's interesting to see Aidan O'Brien put cheekpieces on him today which should sharpen him up. It should be another good battle between the pair. Rebel's Romance is proven at this level and will be no pushover, but may just the legs of his younger rivals. Advertisement Kalpana is a smashing filly. She's an Ascot Group 1 on her CV and gets weight, but she'll still need to find more to shine in this company. My 1-2-3 is: 1st Calandagan 2nd Jan Brueghel 3rd Rebel's Romance YORK Advertisement 2.00 ALZAHIR can keep his fantastic winning run going. He brought up the hat-trick well in a big field at Ascot last time and can cope with a 3lb rise in the weights. He will like this test and goes on any ground. There's every chance of the four-timer. Advertisement Plenty of others lurk with chances. Elmonjed went close at Windsor and is still on a fair mark, while Strike Red, often the bridesmaid, gets conditions to suit and is weighted to go close. Jubilee Walk ran a cracker behind Alzahir at Chester on return and should come on for that, especially with a more prominent ride. Brooklyn Nine Nine is progressive and stayed on strongly to win last time – he's unexposed at this level and won't mind the ground. Advertisement And don't give up on Korker, who returns to his favourite track. 2.40 ALMAQAM looks hard to beat after his impressive effort at Sandown last time out in May. He got the better of Ombudsman in the Brigadier Gerard and he went on to frank the form in style at Royal Ascot. Advertisement This trip is ideal and some cut in the ground suits too. Stanhope Gardens was a respectable fifth in the Derby when he didn't seem to stay 1m4f after travelling well. Dropping in trip looks a wise move and he's another who handles slowish ground. Green Impact was sixth in the Irish Derby latest after winning a Listed contest around this trip. Advertisement He has enough pace to be competitive for Jessica Harrington. Bay City Roller is proven in this grade and just about stayed this far in France last time so can't be ignored. 3.20 COPPER KNIGHT has a solid York record and the 11-year-old has looked up to the task this season in winning twice before going close here last time out. Advertisement He's scored off marks 20lb higher than this in his prime and has enough boot left to strike here for Tim Easterby. He goes on any ground and his middle draw gives him options. Bona Fortuna has been knocking on the door over this trip and is only 2lb higher than his last win. He doesn't mind a bit of juice underfoot. Advertisement 2022 winner Birkenhead went close at Ripon last time and is capable of holding on for a place if blasting off as usual with trainer Paul Midgley in decent nick. Fortunate Star is in flying form having won at Haydock before going close at Donny latest. He should still be ahead of the handicapper and likes this trip. Looking For Lynda is out of sorts but enjoys York and could hit the frame at tasty odds. Advertisement Templegate's tips 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: Read more on the Irish Sun 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.
RTÉ News
20 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."
