2025 News
Close, But No Cigar: Satono Reve 2nd at Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes, Near Misses Japan's First Win at Royal Ascot
The sighs could be heard all the way from Royal Ascot in Japan. Satono Reve almost made history on Saturday (June 21) in the Grade 1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes, missing out on what would have been the first victory by a Japanese-trained horse at the famed British racecourse by half a length. The Noriyuki Hori-trained Satono Reve went off as the betting favorite in the 1,200-meter race, but settled for second place to Lazzat, the 4-year-old gelding from France who picked up his second top-flight win following the Prix Maurice de Gheest last year. Jockey Joao Moreira was biting his lips after Satono Reve nearly broke ground at one of the world’s most heralded racetracks. Lazzat’s winning time was 1 minute, 11.30 seconds. “I went into the race with a lot of confidence,” Moreira said. “The horse was in good condition but unfortunately, we were up against a better horse today.” Six-year-old Satono Reve broke well from the outside gate in a field of 14 after two were scratched on good to firm going. He waited for his time looking in, gradually accelerating midway through. Lazzat broke free of the pack first with Satono Reve locking in and closing in with each stride. But Lazzat, trained by Jerome Reynier and ridden by James Doyle, would not give in, holding off the Japanese challenger to secure the winner’s check of 111 million yen. Expectations for Satono Reve were high with his rich bloodlines — by legendary sprinter Lord Kanaloa out of Ciliege, by another legendary sprinter in Sakura Bakushin O. Satono Reve raised eyebrows last season, when he came in third at the Hong Kong Sprint and followed up in 2025 by producing his first career G1 win at the Takamatsunomiya Kinen in March. His runner-up finish at the Chairman’s Sprint Prize in Hong Kong in April pushed him to the top of the charts among racing fans. Saturday’s result was the best by a JRA horse since Agnes World was runnerup at the 2000 King’s Stand Stakes. Moreira had his chin up despite the outcome. “I thought we had it won during the trip but they kept pushing the pace and didn’t back down. We were gaining on him but all credit to them. He was tough. That said, I’m proud of my horse. He couldn’t have run a better race. I felt like he had every chance to win it but it wasn’t our day facing a much better horse. (Satono Reve) gave it everything he had. I feel privileged to have ridden Satono Reve on a fantastic stage like this. Of course, second place is not what we had hoped for but I’m pleased with how things turned out.” Please visit the following websites for more information.
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