There’s always drama at Royal Ascot, but this one stole the show—by galloping off the script entirely. French sensation Lazzat didn’t just win. He broke free. Literally. After clinching one of the most talked-about victories of the meet, the fiery colt decided to celebrate solo, bolting down the track with no jockey in sight and every camera locked on him.
But before the post-race chaos, there was the kind that counts.
All eyes were on Satono Reve, Japan’s hope for a historic first Royal Ascot win. With twelve attempts behind them, Japanese racing fans were ready for a breakthrough. But it wasn’t to be. Lazzat, trained by the ever-outspoken Jérôme Reynier and expertly guided by James Doyle, had other plans. At 9-2 odds, the French colt held off the fast-closing Satono Reve in a half-length victory that reasserted European turf dominance.
For Doyle and Wathnan Racing, the win marked their second triumph of the day—earlier, Humidity made headlines by dominating the Chesham Stakes. That’s no small feat, especially in a week where 30°C heat turned Ascot into a high-fashion heatwave and the crowd count soared past 286,000.
But the fireworks didn’t end with the photo finish. As Doyle reveled in the win, Lazzat suddenly unshipped his rider and took off, looping around the track like a horse with something left to prove. Cue gasps, laughs, and frantic handlers. A loose horse at Ascot? Not the first time, but definitely one of the most memorable.
“I told James exactly what to do, afterward, his confidence fully intact ” – Reynier
“He knew he wasn’t going to get beaten. Lazzat’s a character—and that’s why he’s our champion”
It was a redemptive moment for Reynier, who hadn’t held back earlier in the week when describing Flavien Prat’s ride on Facteur Cheval in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes as “perhaps the worst ride given to one of my horses.” Ouch. But Doyle? He delivered.
Elsewhere on the final day, age proved nothing but a number. Rebel’s Romance, the globetrotting veteran trained by Charlie Appleby, stormed to victory in the Hardwicke Stakes. At seven years old, he became the oldest winner of the race in over 100 years, adding another chapter to a career that’s already brought wins in the U.S., Dubai, and Hong Kong—not to mention over £10 million in earnings.He’s my best friend”- jockey William Buick
“We had one roll of the dice left. What a partner. He’s a dream horse”
Jerome Reynier cannot fully comprehend why Flavien Prat had deviated so far from his instructions on Facteur Cheval in the Prince Of Wales's Stakes
— Racing Post (@RacingPost) June 21, 2025
🗣️ "He has come out of the race well, despite his jockey doing absolutely nothing to help him. I think it was perhaps the worst… https://t.co/4ly0J6cf8D pic.twitter.com/W96AHcROfx
It was also a day of firsts and farewells. Appleby, after a quieter week than expected, finally got one on the board. Oisin Murphy snagged a fifth win of the meet aboard Quai De Bethune, while Ryan Moore closed out the week with a seventh victory, securing his place as the leading jockey. His win on Sober, trained by Willie Mullins, has already sparked buzz about a possible Melbourne Cup run in November.
The trainers’ title came down to the wire too, with John and Thady Gosden edging out Aidan O’Brien on countback, five wins apiece.
But back to Lazzat. You can’t stage that kind of energy, unpredictability, and star power. And that’s exactly what makes Royal Ascot so addictive. One moment you’re holding off international rivals in a nail-biting finish, the next you’re running wild under blue skies, the toast of the paddock, headline material before the roses have even wilted.
Call it chaos. Call it charisma. Either way, Lazzat gave us a finish—and a victory lap—we won’t forget.
