Territories' Lazzat Wins the Maurice de Gheest for Nurlan Bizakov

Maintaining his unbeaten sequence in style, Nurlan Bizakov's Lazzat (Fr) (Territories {Ire}) proved the slight drop in trip to be no problem as he dominated Sunday's G1 ARC Prix Maurice de Gheest at Deauville. Having captured the seven-furlong G3 Prix Djebel here in April and the G3 Prix Paul de Moussac at Longchamp in June, the Jerome Reynier-trained homebred had a question to answer taking on the pure sprinters over this niche 6 1/2-furlong distance but travelled equally as strongly as them all from the outset.

Looming on the front end approaching the 300-metre marker, the 100-30 second favourite stayed on powerfully to the line where he had three lengths to spare over Exxtra (Fr) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}), with Beauvatier (Fr) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) 3/4 of a length behind in third. The G1 July Cup winner Mill Stream (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}) held every chance, but could only manage fifth.

“Today he proved he belongs in the top league,” Reynier said, before revealing the gelding's big aim later in the year.

“The Golden Eagle in Australia is his target against local four-year-olds with a weight allowance,” he explained. “It was won last year by a Japanese horse who had the same conditions. He has to have two weeks' quarantine in Newmarket and two more locally, so we will see but it looks like a race designed for him. He doesn't need much work, he's just a good horse and a pure champion, I think.”

Now six-for-six, the Sumbe homebred has come a long way since his debut at Cagnes-sur-Mer in January and his trainer was keen to herald his efforts in turning around the mindset of what was a tricky character at the outset. “This horse would not be what he is had he not been gelded,” he explained. “He was very difficult to be around and impossible to train early on–heavy and mean and gelding him has transformed him. The team at home has done a great job.”

“We trained him early this year and he had three races in Cagnes, quite close together but easy like morning gallops and they were necessary to build him up,” Reynier added. “It is unbelievable the way he was physically and mentally today, he was so strong and it gives you so much confidence. He's a bit like Facteur Cheval, he never lets you down and he is exciting for the coming months and years–he is going to run forever hopefully, if he can stay safe and sound. He goes on any ground and on left, right or straight courses so he ticks many boxes.”

Nurlan Bizakov simply said, “Some horses don't know how to win, but Lazzat doesn't know how to lose!”

Yann Lerner said of Exxtra, “She has put up a great performance again in a particularly tough field. Ever since she ran such a good race last year in the Prix de la Foret, we mapped out a program to bring her to this race in top form and her whole programme has been geared towards this race. She has improved with every run this year, she has backed our judgement and she should again tackle the Foret.”

Yann Barberot said of Beauvatier, “I'm delighted with the performance and I think we can say for sure now that he doesn't stay and is a speedy type. His dam's pedigree speaks of stamina, but he's inherited his speed from his sire. On this type of course, he is a straightforward ride and has a sharp turn of foot at the end. I was toying with running him in the Prix de la Foret, but that seven-furlong trip will certainly be too far for him. He could maybe go straight to Ascot for the six-furlong Group 1 on Champions Day.”

Pedigree Notes

Lazzat, who becomes the third Group 1 winner for his sire, is currently the only known foal out of Lastochka (Ire) (Australia {GB}), a granddaughter of the G1 1,000 Guineas heroine Sleepytime (Ire) (Royal Academy). Her four black-type winners include the G3 Winter Derby winner Gentleman's Deal (Ire) (Danehill) and the G3 Superior Mile winner Hathal (Speightstown), while her dam is the top producer Alidiva (Ire) (Chief Singer {Ire}) who also produced Sleepytime's G1 Sussex Stakes-winning full-brother Ali-Royal (Ire) and the four-times Group 1 winner Taipan (Ire) (Last Tycoon {Ire}).

LE GRAND EXPLOIT DE LAZZAT

(A. Orani / @EcurieReynier) reste invaincu en crucifiant ses adversaires dans l'Arc Prix Maurice de Gheest (Gr.1) à Deauville.

6⃣ courses
6⃣ victoires
1⃣er Groupe 1 pour Lazzat et pour Antonio Orani pic.twitter.com/dv34Rytlty

— Equidia (@equidia) August 4, 2024

Sunday, Deauville, France
ARC PRIX MAURICE DE GHEEST-G1, €380,000, Deauville, 8-4, 3yo/up, 6 1/2fT, 1:15.82, g/s.
1–LAZZAT (FR), 126, g, 3, by Territories (Ire)
1st Dam: Lastochka (GB), by Australia (GB)
2nd Dam: Lashyn, by Mr. Greeley
3rd Dam: Sleepytime (Ire), by Royal Academy
1ST GROUP 1 WIN. O-Nurlan Bizakov; B-Sumbe (FR); T-Jerome Reynier; J-Antonio Orani. €217,132. Lifetime Record: 6-6-0-0, €351,132. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Exxtra (Fr), 127, f, 4, Starspangledbanner (Aus)–Rolling Stone (Ire), by Raven's Pass. 1ST GROUP 1 BLACK TYPE. (€26,000 Ylg '21 ARQOCT; €150,000 RNA 2yo '22 ARQDEC). O-Anja Wilde; B-Mme Isabelle Corbani & SARL Jedburgh Stud (FR); T-Carlos & Yann Lerner. €86,868.
3–Beauvatier (Fr), 126, c, 3, Lope De Vega (Ire)–Enchanting Skies (Ire), by Sea The Stars (Ire). TDN Rising Star. (€160,000 Ylg '22 ARQAUG). O-Philippe Allaire & Haras d'Etreham; B-Ecurie des Monceaux, Qatar Bloodstock Ltd & Mme Barbara M Keller (FR); T-Yann Barberot. €43,434.
Margins: 3, 3/4, HD. Odds: 3.30, 16.00, 11.00.
Also Ran: Flora Of Bermuda (Ire), Mill Stream (Ire), Saint Lawrence (Ire), Matilda Picotte (Ire), Puchkine (Fr), King Gold (Fr), Khaadem (Ire), Classic Flower (GB), Game Run (Fr), Bellano (Fr), Havana Cigar (GB), Great Generation (Ire). Scratched: Shouldvebeenaring (GB).

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