Lazzat, a Group 1 sprint winner in France last summer, won for the first time in another country with a front-running win in Saturday’s Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes, the leading race on the fifth and final day of the Royal Ascot meeting in England.
Ridden by James Doyle, Lazzat was one of nine of the 14 runners in the six-furlong dash on a straightaway course to race in the center of the track. Lazzat was challenged in the final eighth of a mile but kept his advantage to win by a half-length over the Japanese shipper Satono Reve.
After the win, Lazzat unseated Doyle while being galloped toward the stands, and ran freely on the Ascot track for several minutes.
Lazzat paid $11.50 in the World Pool. Satono Reve, who raced in a group of five closest to the grandstand side of the course, was the even-money favorite.
Satono Reve finished three lengths clear of 15-1 Flora of Bermuda.
Lazzat won the richest race of his career in the $1.34 million Jubilee Stakes, his eighth victory in 11 starts for trainer Jeremy Reynier.
Reynier, who won his first career race at Royal Ascot on Saturday, told the press that the challenge from Satono Reve was expected.
“I have been watching all his races and he always comes late,” Reynier said of Satono Reve. “James had a really good feeling with [Lazzat] and when the Japanese horse came to him, Lazzat put his ears back and tried again.”
Lazzat races for Wathnan Racing of Qatar, who purchased the 4-year-old French-bred gelding in advance of the Jubilee Stakes. Wathnan Racing also owns Flora of Bermuda.
Lazzat won the Group 1 Prix Maurice de Gheest at Deauville, France, last August, that country’s leading sprint of the summer. Lazzat was beaten in his next three starts, including a second of 20 in the $6.57 million Golden Eagle Stakes at Rosehill Gardens in Sydney, Australia, last November.
After finishing fourth by a length in the Prix Altipan at a mile at Saint-Cloud Racecourse in Paris in March in his first start of the year, Lazzat rebounded to dominate seven rivals, winning the minor Prix Servanne by 5 1/2 lengths at six furlongs on May 2 at Chantilly.
Reynier said Lazzat is a candidate for the $437,800 Prix Maurice de Gheest at 6 1/2 furlongs on Aug. 10 at Deauville.
Rebel’s Romance wins Hardwicke
In his wide-ranging career, which includes wins in the Breeders’ Cup Turf in 2022 and 2024, and five Group 1 wins in Dubai, Hong Kong, and Germany, Rebel’s Romance had never raced at Royal Ascot.
That ended on Saturday with the 7-year-old gelding winning the Group 2 $335,600 Hardwicke Stakes for older horses at 1 1/2 miles.
Ridden by William Buick for trainer Charlie Appleby, Rebel’s Romance raced in a stalking position in the field of 12 before taking the lead with more than a quarter-mile remaining. Rebel’s Romance, who was favored and paid $4.20, finished 1 3/4 lengths in front of 4-1 Al Riffa, a Group 1 winner in Germany last summer.
Ghostwriter (5-1) finished third in the field of 12.
Rebel’s Romance was Appleby’s 16th career winner at Royal Ascot, but first since 2002.
“For him to do it on this stage is what he richly deserves,” Appleby told the press. “If there was one man who was going to pull it out of the bag, it was Rebel’s Romance.”
Rebel’s Romance has won 18 of 26 starts. Buick has been aboard for 23 of those races, including 16 wins.
“Rebel’s Romance is a dream horse,” Buick said. “Any jockey that is fortunate in their career to have a horse like Rebel's Romance is blessed, and I am blessed.
“He has been around the block and is a top-class racehorse. You don’t find many top-class horses with a will to win like he has. I always say he always finds a way.”
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