Lazzat in prime form as he bids for Deauville repeat

Lazzat is being backed by connections to relish his optimum conditions when he defends his Prix Maurice de Gheest crown at Deauville on Sunday.

The four-year-old gave new owners Wathnan Racing a day to remember when landing the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Royal Ascot and Jerome Reynier’s sprint king now tries to make it three from three on the Normandy coast.

“Jerome reports he has come out of Ascot in good form and is fresh and well ahead of Sunday,” said Richard Brown, racing adviser to Wathnan Racing.

“He obviously won this race last year and we would be looking forward to seeing him go and try to defend his crown.

“I think a straight track is important to him and he’s versatile between six and seven furlongs, so this is right in the middle. It looks like it’s going to be nice ground and probably on the quick side which will be perfect for him.

“He’s already won us a Group One, he’s is a very talented animal and is exactly the type of horse we are looking for in the operation.”

The home side have a strong squad assembled for the Group One event and along with Lazzat, Francis-Henri Graffard’s Woodshauna also heads into the event with standout claims having scooped the Prix Jean Prat on his most recent start.

“Francis says he is in top form for this weekend’s race in Deauville,” said John Stewart of owner Resolute Racing.

“It looks to be an exciting race with a deep field and should be a good challenge to see him run against older horses.”

It has not been unusual to see Graffard in the winner’s enclosure in his homeland this term and as well as Woodshauna he will saddle Commonwealth Cup third Rayevka.

Charlie Appleby’s 2000 Guineas third Shadow Of Light just missed out on the podium in the Prix Jean Prat when beaten half a length, while he finished fifth in the Commonwealth Cup on his penultimate start.

He is joined in the line-up by Moulton Paddocks stablemate Symbol Of Honour, with the Godolphin handler hopeful this six-and-a-half-furlong test could prove perfect for both.

Appleby told www.godolphin.com: “Shadow Of Light has run solid races all year without getting his head in front, and this should be a nice distance for him. We are hopeful that, if he can run up to his best two-year-old form, it will make him very competitive.

“Symbol Of Honour ran a very creditable race in the July Cup (eighth) and I feel that the six and a half furlongs here will be a good trip for him.”

Other British interest is provided by Kevin Ryan’s Inisherin, who will be partnered by Ryan Moore as he seeks compensation after being withdrawn at the start of the July Cup, and Ed Bethell’s ever-consistent flagbearer Regional.