Keeping his unbeaten record intact in style at Deauville on Tuesday, Nurlan Bizakov's Lazzat (Fr) (Territories {Ire}) made all in a G3 Prix Djebel that he turned into a war of attrition. Taken straight to the front by Antonio Orani, the Listed Prix de la Californie winner stretched his rivals to breaking point, with only Keran (Fr) (Blue Point {Ire}) able top give any meaningful pursuit. At the line, the 7-10 favourite had 2 1/2 lengths to spare, with five lengths back to Devil's Point (Ire) (New Bay {GB}) in third.
"It is a great moment for me for two reasons. Firstly, it is a first group win in France for Antonio and second because my father won this race as an owner in 1988 with Shaindy and I grew up next to the photo of this win," Reynier explained. "We now have both our name in the record book of the Djebel and that is a great pride. I told my jockey beforehand, this is a no-brainer, we know he stays so go on and trust your horse--he is in great form. He has climbed another step in style, but being a gelding we know some races are closed to him. The two options now are in June, either the [G3 Prix] Paul de Moussac at Longchamp or the [G3] Jersey S. at Royal Ascot."
Lazzat is the first and so far only foal of a granddaughter of the G1 1000 Guineas heroine Sleepytime (Ire) (Royal Academy), who produced six stakes performers headed by the G3 Superior Mile winner Hathal (Speightstown). Along with her fellow Group 1-winning full-brother Ali-Royal (Ire), Sleepytime helped her dam Alidiva (Ire) (Chief Singer {Ire}) to the title of Broodmare of the year in 1997, while she is also kin to the multiple Group 1- winning sire Taipan (Ire) (Last Tycoon {Ire}), the GII Louisville Breeders' Cup H. and GII Rampart H. winner Oonagh Maccool (Ire) (Giant's Causeway) and to the dams of the G1 Doncaster Mile hero Somewhat (Dynaformer) and this owner-breeder's G3 Oh So Sharp S. winner and G1 Falmouth S. and G1 Sun Chariot S.-placed Altyn Orda (Ire) (Kyllachy {GB}).