France's Lazzat Best in Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee

Lazzat (FR) gave France its first success of the week at Royal Ascot June 21 after several near-misses. The Jerome Reynier-trained 4-year-old took the six-furlong Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes (G1) to complete a double on the day for jockey James Doyle and hand Wathnan Racing its fifth victory at the meeting. He was France's first winner of this group 1 sprint since before World War II. As with Chesham Stakes winner Humidity (GB), Lazzat had been bought privately by his new owners ahead of the meeting. And he gave them an instant return, showing good speed to lead from the off. The 9-2 shot was pressed strongly in the final furlong by heavily backed 2-1 favorite Satono Reve (JPN) but held on by a half-length. The Japanese-trained runner-up emulated compatriot Agnes World's second-place finish in the 2000 King's Stand Stakes (G2), but their country remains without a winner at the meeting in 13 attempts. "We went into the race with a lot of confidence; the horse was feeling so well in himself," said Santono Reve's jockey, Joao Moreria. "Unfortunately, we bumped into a very good horse today. Halfway through I thought I had him done but he just had another kick." The first two pulled three lengths clear of the rest, who were headed by Wathnan's second-string Flora of Bermuda (IRE) in third place. "It's been an amazing week and that has capped it off," Wathnan racing adviser Richard Brown said. "What an amazing horse race, he's locked up with the Japanese horse there and they've gone a long way clear in a six-furlong sprint. That was an absolutely phenomenal race to watch and to be on the lucky side is just amazing; what a horse. Huge credit to Nurlan Bizakov who bred the horse and has a lot of the family, we're just very lucky they sold him to us." An international field was assembled for Saturday's race, though only the Australian-born Storm Boy (AUS) had some ties to the United States, being a son of 2018 Triple Crown winner Justify. Storm Boy ran 10th. The only false step was when Lazzat jumped at the sight of the winner's horse blanket after the race and unseated Doyle, who was unhurt. "I can't take any credit for this at all," Doyle said of the victory. "Jerome and his team told me all about him. "His young jockey in France did a great job bringing through the ranks. I have to say Jerome was very confident. He said all week don't worry about the (fast) ground. We mapped the pace out and we thought if I end up leading, I end up leading. He said, 'Don't worry, he won't stop.' It worked out perfectly. You won't get a more genuine horse than this."