New Bay x Falling Petals filly
Saffron Beach has reaffirmed her standing as one of Europe’s premier milers with a dominant win in the €300,000 G1 Prix Rothschild (1600m) in Deauville. It was the second success at the highest level for the China Horse Club bred mare who established herself as an elite performer when streeting rivals in the 2021 G1 Sun Chariot Stakes.
Trainer Jane Chapple-Hyam was deservedly buoyant about her stable talisman and has her crosshairs set on a programme that will take Saffron Beach to the USD2,000,000 G1 Breeders’ Cup Mile come November. The powerful chestnut has been untouchable since tackling the USD5,000,000 Dubai Turf in March, annexing the G2 Duke of Cambridge at Royal Ascot by almost four lengths before today’s imperious win.
“She’s very brave, very tenacious and is probably better here than she was at Royal Ascot. They came to challenge her and she found another gear, which was nice to see,” Chapple-Hyam told Sky Sports Racing.
“We’re very pleased because we were giving the three-year-olds 7lb, they came to challenge and she went on with it, so it’s good.”
China Horse Club has a full-sister to Saffron Beach on the ground at Ballylinch Stud who, at this very early stage, looks to share her sister’s powerful frame.
“She’s in the Matron at Leopardstown and the Sun Chariot at Newmarket and then, hopefully, if that all goes well, the Breeders’ Cup,” Chapple-Hyam said.
“We saw that [Saffron Beach] travelled well to Dubai and she travelled well over here, so with those concerns we feel we’ve ticked the box.
“I’m very grateful to the owners for allowing me to train her. It’s a good team effort from everyone back at Abingdon Place.”
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