3 minute read
Jerome Reynier is hoping Lazzat can provide him with a breakthrough success at Royal Ascot as he gears up for a crack at the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes at the Royal meeting.
A regular figure at the Royal meeting in recent years thanks to the talents of both Zarakem and Facteur Cheval, the Marseille-based handler is hoping that Lazzat's first trip to Ascot can be the one that will have him celebrating loudest of all in Berkshire.
Carrying the colours of the leading Kazakhstan-born businessman Nurlan Bizakov, Lazzat enjoyed a fruitful 2024 campaign, winning six consecutive races including the Prix Maurice de Gheest.
A high-class second-place finish in the valuable Golden Eagle at Rosehill before finishing ninth in the Hong Kong Mile at Sha Tin rounded out a memorable season, leaving connections excited about what Lazzat's four-year-old career may hold.
Despite suffering a shock defeat over a mile when only fourth in the Prix Altipan on his reappearance, the gelded son of Territories was sent off a general odds-on chance to get back to winning ways when dropped to six-furlongs in the Prix Servanne earlier this month.
Always towards the fore under the owners retained rider Cristian Demuro, Lazzat produced a dazzling performance to score by five and a half lengths, with subsequent Greenlands Stakes hero James's Delight back in fifth.
Reynier now plans to stick to sprinting with his talented four-year-old, who currently heads the ante-post betting for the six-furlong Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot on Saturday 21st June.
Reynier said: "Lazzat is in good shape, we're very happy with him,"
"He kept his unbeaten record on straight courses the other day at Chantilly, clocking a really fast time and he beat, by nine lengths, the winner of one of this weekend's Group races at the Curragh.
"The form is good, and we know he's a very good horse, he's going to specialise in sprint distances so we will be aiming for the Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot.
"We're quite excited to have the ante-post favourite for that race, we're going to prepare him the best we can and hope for the best.
"He doesn't need anyone, he made all last time out in Chantilly, and he doesn't mind the ground. He can go on good, firm, fast, soft – anything.
"That where's we are with him, we'll come to Royal Ascot with plenty of confidence."
