Lazzat camp will not rush star sprinter’s return

Connections are eyeing an autumn return at the earliest for Lazzat as he continues to recover from the setback that ruled him out of the defence of his Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes crown at Royal Ascot.

Jerome Reynier’s speedball downed Japanese raider Satono Reve when making a victorious debut in the Wathnan Racing silks 12 months ago, having been subject to a high-profile transfer prior to the Royal meeting.

He continued to carry the silks with distinction, finishing second in both the Prix Maurice de Gheest and British Champions Sprint last term before also knocking on the door in two overseas missions in the Middle East in the early part of 2026.

The five-year-old made a welcome return to the winner’s enclosure when serving a reminder of his quality in the Prix du Palais-Royal at ParisLongchamp last month and it appeared all systems go for a return to Berkshire before injury intervened which could even curtail his whole season.

“He’s absolutely fine and is back over here in Newmarket at Luke Hollinson’s where he will do his rehab,” explained Wathnan’s racing adviser Richard Brown.

“We’re going to have to see if he will be back at the end of the season, if we are to see him again this year. There’s no timescale and he’s a champion for us and he’ll either be ready or he won’t.

“Those races in the summer will definitely come soon and if he’s to come back this year it will be in the autumn. It could be something like Champions Day or next season and that’s not an entirely unrealistic aim as it’s still a long way off.”