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Lazuli on top of the World at Newbury

Racenews

Three-year-old sprinter Lazuli secured a first G3 victory when comfortably beating established G1 performers Tis Marvellous and Equilateral in the World Trophy over five furlongs at Newbury, UK, on Saturday, 19 September.

The son of Dubawi, a Listed winner for Charlie Appleby over the same distance at Sandown Park in June, led his group of five down the centre of the course as Glamourous Anna and Ornate raced away from the rest of the field.

Lazuli was niggled along in third overall as the runners converged entering the final quarter-mile. He responded gamely for William Buick, quickening strongly to take up the running approaching the furlong-pole before asserting in the closing stages for a length success over this year’s G1 King’s Stand Stakes fourth Tis Marvellous. Equilateral, who was runner-up in the same Royal Ascot sprint, finished a nose further back in third.

Charlie Appleby said: “I was delighted with the performance of Lazuli, who enjoyed the drop back to five furlongs and beat some very strong older sprinters. The likelihood now is that we will put him away and take him out to Dubai for the Carnival.”

William Buick added: “Lazuli looked very promising at Sandown earlier in the year but then disappointed on his next start for no apparent reason. He ran well at Deauville over six furlongs, which is probably stretching him slightly, and conditions were ideal for him today.

“When he won at Sandown, he bossed the race but won in a good time and gave me a great feeling. He has shown today that he can fight for it as well, against older opposition too. He is a very fast horse, who is only a three-year-old and is going to get better next year.”