Wathnan Racing swoop for Ascot hope Lazzat

Group One-winning sprinter Lazzat has been bought by Wathnan Racing.

The four-year-old, who is trained by Jerome Reynier in France, landed the Prix Maurice de Gheest at Deauville last season before being narrowly beaten in the seven-furlong last Golden Eagle in Sydney in November.

Lazzat made a winning reappearance in Listed company at Chantilly earlier this month and is on course for the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot, when he will sport the colours of his new owner.

Richard Brown, racing adviser to Wathnan, said: “We’ve long admired Lazzat – who wouldn’t? He’s a sensational sprinter, a huge talent, and he’s been extremely well managed to put together a string of outstanding performances.

“He’ll be a force wherever he turns up in the top six and seven-furlong races and we are delighted he’ll be running in the Wathnan colours.”

The gelding will stay in the care of Reynier, who added: “We are all very proud to have Wathnan Racing in the yard, and excited to have the ante-post favourite for the big Royal Ascot race.

“Lazzat is a very easy horse to deal with and gets on very well with his work rider Franck Blondel. He’s unbeaten over straight courses and has never looked better.”