France's Lazzat impressed in Saturday’s Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes, while Storm Boy disappointed in tenth. Wathnan Racing’s strong week continued with two more victories. OTI Racing's Sober won the final race of the meet, the Queen Alexandra Stakes, and could be aimed at the Melbourne Cup.
Lazzat impresses in G1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes
Saturday's G1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes lived up to all the billing, with Lazzat (Fr) (Territories {Ire}) denying the Japanese challenger Satono Reve (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) to provide Wathnan with a fifth Royal Ascot winner this week.
“That's capped an amazing week,” Wathnan's 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–it was an absolutely phenomenal race to watch and to be on the lucky side is just amazing.”
“Japanese horses are very hard to beat, they've got world-class breeding operations and Satono Reve looked a monster walking round here beforehand so that is a very, very brave performance. That's two brilliant rides from James Doyle from the front this afternoon. It's just very exciting and we're very privileged to be involved with a horse of that quality.”
Storm Boy (Justify {USA}) failed to fire under Ryan Moore and finished tenth.
Rebel's Romance breaks Appleby's Royal Ascot drought
Bringing an end to a three-year winless streak at Royal Ascot for Charlie Appleby, Dubawi's international heavyweight Rebel's Romance (Ire) came out punching in Saturday's G2 Hardwicke Stakes. Always travelling easily behind the genuine pace, the 6-4 favourite took control two out and drew away under William Buick to beat Al Riffa (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) by 1 3/4 lengths.
“He's a worldwide superstar and I said earlier I have a picture of him on my bedside table, he means so much to us,” Appleby said, whose last win at the meeting came with Naval Crown in the 2022 G1 Platinum Jubilee Stakes."
“If one horse was going to pull it out of the bag, it was Rebel's Romance.”
Lope De Vega colt snares G3 Jersey Stakes
Simon Sadler's TBT Racing was in the number one spot at Royal Ascot for the first time on Saturday as Noble Champion (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) dominated the G3 Jersey Stakes.
“He's driven me mad! He's so talented and it's remarkable that he's come back from those disappointing runs,” trainer Ed Walker said. “I thought he was one of the best horses we've had at home and we felt if it didn't work today it would be back to the drawing board."
"I'm so pleased for Simon Sadler, he's a top man and is donating his winnings to a pancreatic cancer charity. It means a lot, as I lost my father to pancreatic cancer.”
Wathnan again!
Emulating his full-brother Holloway Boy, Wathnan's Humidity (GB) (Ulysses {Ire}) was in command in Saturday's Listed Chesham Stakes at Royal Ascot. Unlike his sibling who took this on debut in 2022, the Andrew Balding-trained chestnut had the benefit of a previous outing having won over six furlongs at Newbury last month and was professional in front from the outset under James Doyle.
Wathnan had purchased Humidity from Cheveley Park Stud after his debut and Richard Brown was quick to pay tribute to the breeders. “I would just like to say huge congratulations to Mrs Thompson, Cheveley Park Stud and Chris Richardson,” he said.
“They sell a lot of their colts as yearlings, so we thought it was worth an approach and luckily they agreed to sell Humidity to us. He walked around here like an old pro.”
