Hong Kong winners Lazzat and Rebel's Romance the star acts on Sunday's simulcast cards
Lazzat will take the next step in cementing himself as the best European sprinter when he goes for back to back wins in the Group One Prix Maurice de Gheest (1,300m) at Deauville on Sunday.
The Jerome Reynier-trained speedster is a perfect three from three at the sprint trips and bagged his second top-level success when making all the running in the Group One Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes (1,200m) at Royal Ascot.
He gave his connections a scare post race, however, unshipping his jockey James Doyle and providing fans with an unscheduled lap of honour.
LAZZAT WINS THE QUEEN ELIZABETH II JUBILEE STAKES! 🏆 #ROYALASCOT pic.twitter.com/QaQZ1vp3M8 — At The Races (@AtTheRaces) June 21, 2025
His Ascot win put him to the front of the pack in terms of European sprinters and he has drawn barrier three as he bids to follow up a dominant three-length success in this race from 12 months ago.
'He took fright at the blanket and ejected James Doyle before escaping, but fortunately there was no harm done,' Reynier said this week.
'He came out of his Ascot race very well. He adapts to everything, is used to Deauville and is ready to defend his title.'
It will not be an easy task, however, with strong challengers from at home and abroad.
The Prix Maurice de Gheest is one of the few Group One races that legendary trainer Andre Fabre is yet to win and Sajir, a Group Three winner at Newmarket two starts ago, will bid to put that right after being withdrawn at the start at Royal Ascot.
The Abernant goes to France 🇫🇷
Sajir strikes for master trainer André Fabre and @oismurphy.@BlandfordBldstk | @NewmarketRace pic.twitter.com/Wlwf7JFLrT — Racing TV (@RacingTV) April 16, 2025
As for the raiders, the biggest danger is set to be the Kevin Ryan-trained Inisherin, an impressive winner of the Group One Commonwealth Cup (1,200m) at Royal Ascot last year.
He ran out of steam when seventh to Lazzat at Ascot last time, but his trainer is confident of a return to form.
'It's unfortunate what happened in the July Cup, but that's past tense now, and it was always the plan after that to go to the Maurice de Gheest,' Ryan told the Nick Luck podcast.
'This is six-and-a-half furlongs, an extra half furlong, but it won't be a problem to him. He seems very well in himself and I'm looking forward to running him. I think the distance will really suit him.'
Other leading contenders include Group One Prix Jean Prat (1,400m) winner Woodshauna and Godolphin's Shadow Of Light, who chased home that rival in fourth last time.
WOODSHAUNA WINS THE PRIX JEAN PRAT! 🏆 pic.twitter.com/LV5oMMdCJ3 — At The Races (@AtTheRaces) July 6, 2025
There is also German action being simulcast on Sunday, with the Group One Grosser Preis von Berlin (2,400m) being the feature contest.
One of the biggest races in the German calendar, it has been won by raiding horses in three of the last four years.
Last year's Group One Champions & Chater Cup (2,400m) winner Rebel's Romance heads the field and is set to go off a very warm order for 2022's winning trainer Charlie Appleby.
Junko, who won the 2023 Group One Hong Kong Vase (2,400m), is another big danger from abroad for trainer Andre Fabre.
The home team is headed by last year's second Narrativo, who chased home the smart Al Riffa on that occasion, but he may have to settle for the same position with another strong group of raiders.
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