Lazzat to lead Wathnan squad in Champions Sprint

Lazzat will return to the scene of his finest hour when he spearheads a three-strong Wathnan Racing assault on the Qipco British Champions Sprint Stakes at Ascot next month.

Jerome Reynier’s flying four-year-old was a headline buy for the Qatari operation prior to Royal Ascot where he excelled over the Champions Day course and distance when edging out Japanese raider Satono Reve in a titanic tussle at the conclusion of the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes.

He has been a beaten favourite in both the Prix Maurice de Gheest and Haydock’s Sprint Cup since, but connections are confident a spell back home in the warmer climes of Reynier’s Marseille base coupled with a return to Ascot could reap rewards on October 18.

“I’ve spoken with Jerome and we’re going to freshen Lazzat up and go straight for the Champions Day sprint at Ascot,” said Richard Brown, Wathnan’s racing adviser.

“He was of course a little bit disappointing at Haydock and I would say that he potentially had a very hard race at Royal Ascot and sometimes when they put in such a huge effort like he did at Ascot it can take a little while to recover and maybe that is still showing on him

“We all know he’s better than what we saw at Haydock and in the Maurice de Gheest and albeit he didn’t run a bad race either time, it certainly wasn’t at the level he showed at Ascot

“He’s back at home in Marseille now, where I think he is potentially happier than he was in Deauville.

“The stiff six furlongs at Ascot is absolutely perfect for him. It’s a fast, flat six at Haydock and perhaps he wasn’t able to go that early pace like he did when winning at Royal Ascot, so we’ll go back to where the best run of his career is and hopefully that will return him to winning ways.”

Lazzat was only fifth on Merseyside earlier this month, as Mick Appleby’s Big Mojo took home the spoils. But Wathnan did fill the podium spots on that occasion thanks to the resurgent Kind Of Blue (second) and ever-consistent Flora Of Bermuda (third) .

It was Flora Of Bermuda’s third placed effort in four Group-level outings this term and the Andrew Balding-trained filly will join Lazzat be on the team sheet for Ascot, as will James Fanshawe’s defending champion Kind Of Blue, who could be hitting his straps at just the right moment to defend the crown he wore 12 months ago.

“We’ll go three-strong like we did at Haydock and try again,” continued Brown.

“Flora Of Bermuda is such a legend and deserves to win one of these, she’s such a tough filly. She will go straight there, as will Kind Of Blue who is again just coming to himself.

“James’ horses are in fantastic form now. Kind Of Blue has taken his time to come to himself this season, but hopefully he is peaking at the right time to take a good shot at retaining his crown.

“I thought he ran a great race at Haydock and it was his best run this year. The stiff six at Ascot really suits him and hopefully he’s back near his best.”