French raider Lazzat delivered a commanding performance to deny Japanese favourite Satono Reve in a dramatic conclusion to the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot.

The 9-2 shot, making his debut for Wathnan Racing, was expertly ridden by James Doyle, who made all the running before Lazzat dug deep to fend off a late challenge from Joao Moreira aboard the 2-1 favourite. The victory marks another significant success during a stellar week for both jockey and owners.

The win was not without drama, however. As Doyle returned to the winner’s enclosure, Lazzat unshipped his rider, bolting loose and galloping around the course before being safely recaptured and returned to the stables.

Lazzat’s triumph adds a second Group One title to his record, having previously landed the Prix Maurice de Gheest last season. His subsequent ventures to Australia and Hong Kong had cast doubt over his current form, but this commanding return silenced the sceptics and confirmed his credentials as one of Europe’s premier sprinters.

“He’s a Pure Sprinter” – Reynier Celebrates First Royal Ascot Victory
Trainer Jerome Reynier, celebrating his maiden Royal Ascot success, was full of praise for his four-year-old charge:

“He won at the top level as a three-year-old in the Maurice de Gheest at Deauville, but after his travels to Australia and Hong Kong, I feared we might not get him back to his best.

We’ve been experimenting over a mile to broaden his options, but this proves he’s a pure sprinter — and we’ll stick to sprint distances on straight tracks going forward.”

Speaking on the race itself, Reynier credited Lazzat’s determination when challenged:

“Satono Reve is a quality horse — I’ve watched all his races and he always finishes strongly. But James had a great feeling during the race, and when the Japanese horse came to him, Lazzat pinned his ears back and fought. James said there was no way he was getting passed today.”

Plans for the Season and Potential Hong Kong Showdown
Following the performance, bookmakers Paddy Power shortened Lazzat’s odds from 8-1 to 7-2 for the July Cup at Newmarket, though Reynier suggested that might come too soon:

“The July Cup may arrive a little too quickly. Defending his Maurice de Gheest crown is more likely. We also have the Sprint Cup at Haydock, and potentially a return to Ascot in October for the QIPCO British Champions Sprint.

He handles all types of ground, even heavy, so that gives us plenty of flexibility.”

Looking further ahead, Reynier hinted at a dream clash with Hong Kong sensation Ka Ying Rising:

“It would be fantastic to meet him one day — maybe at the end of the year in the Hong Kong Sprint at Sha Tin. If Lazzat wins two or three more Group Ones this year, he’ll be the best sprinter in Europe, and that would set the stage for an incredible contest.”

Doyle: “He Wasn’t Going to Be Beaten Today”
For Doyle, it was a fourth win of the week at Ascot, though not without an unusual postscript:

“He just spooked at the winner’s sheet and got loose for about 15 minutes — not ideal, but clearly he still had plenty left in the tank!

What a race. The Japanese horse came to me near the line, but Lazzat pinned his ears back and charged forward — he’s got real talent and wasn’t going to be beaten today.”

Doyle added with a smile:

“It’s the first time I’ve ever been unseated like that after a big win — a real shame I couldn’t come in with him.
I apologised to the King and Queen when collecting the trophy, told them I probably should have spent more time in Pony Club! We all had a good laugh about it.”

The win cements Lazzat’s place among the elite sprinters in Europe — a “funny character,” as Reynier calls him, but a true champion on the track.