English/Ire
Lazzat given Al Quoz aim
Lazzat will now head to Dubai to contest the Al Quoz Sprint following his agonising defeat in Saudi Arabia.
A winner of the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot last June, Lazzat was making his first start since finishing runner-up at the same track in the Qipco British Champions Sprint Stakes in October.
Jerome Reynier's charge may have failed to make a winning return to action in the unique 1351 Turf Sprint at Riyadh, but he proved he was as good as ever at the age of five, only going down by a neck to America's Reef Runner having been forced wide throughout from is starting gate in stall twelve.
The son of Territories will now look to get back to winning ways in the Middle East, with connections targeting the Al Quoz Sprint at Meydan on Dubai World Cup night.
Richard Brown, racing adviser to owners Wathnan Racing, said: "I think he ran a tremendous race considering he had been off for four months since running on Champions Day and he had a good blow afterwards.
"I think the draw made it difficult and I think there was more pace on the inside than we were expecting, which meant he couldn't get out and across and on the lead and ended up out wide. We don't like making excuses, but it was difficult from out there.
"I think he is probably better on a straight track and obviously we were disappointed not to win, but at the same time delighted he ran such a great race, and he was battling back at the end.
"The plan is to go to the Al Quoz. He will go straight there and hopefully run another good race at Meydan next month."
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