'We just bumped into a very good horse' - Satono Reve camp philosophical after Japan star suffers Royal Ascot heartbreak

Europe went to bed on Friday night with Lazzat the clear favourite  for the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes and Satono Reve the fascinating ingredient, lurking below him in a market where only Inisherin threatened any sort of home defence.

But powered by the might of a World Pool clientele all too aware of Satono Reve's formlines with Hong Kong star Ka Ying Rising, by mid-morning on Saturday, Noriyuki Hori's sprinter was market leader.

Rails layer Danny Sullivan summed up what many domestic fans might have felt when he said before racing: "I personally have never seen him and so we’ll be against him. If we can, we’ll stand him and have the rest of the field running for us.”

The presence of four-time champion of Hong Kong Joao Moreira aboard Satono Reve will have further influenced the money coming from the Far East and the son of Lord Kanaloa ran a fine race isolated up the stands' side, spurring Lazzat to what must have been a career-best performance and leaving a yawning three lengths back to third-placed Flora Of Bermuda.

Joao Moreira and Satono Reve return to the number two spot after the Queen Elizabeth II StakesCredit: Racing Post/Burton

"We went into the race confident, the horse was feeling so well in himself," said Moreira. "Unfortunately, we ran into a very good horse today. Halfway through I thought he had him, but he just had another kick attacking the line.

"I was closing but we just bumped into a very good one. But I have to say, my horse ran really well and I can’t complain about it."

Moreira said he and trainer Hori had identified Lazzat as the chief danger beforehand, while Satono Reve, a 13th Japanese-trained runner at Royal Ascot, matched the effort of Agnes World in the 2000 King's Stand Stakes as the country's joint-best performance at the meeting.

He added: "Lazzat’s form indicated he was the horse to beat and he’s been winning very impressively on home ground."

Sporting a cornflower in his buttonhole for the occasion, Mori is a master of international campaigns and will have learned more about exactly what is required to succeed at this meeting. Expect him to be back.

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