Saffron Beach impresses in Duke of Cambridge

Simon Milham and Molly Hunter
June 15, 2022 3:57 pm

Jane Chapple-Hyam’s filly stamps her class on Group Two event.

Saffron Beach gave weight and a thorough beating to her rivals in the Duke of Cambridge Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Jane Chapple-Hyam’s filly enjoyed an excellent three-year-old campaign last season, finishing second to Mother Earth in the 1000 Guineas before reversing that form in the Sun Chariot.

A penalty for that Group One victory meant she was forced to concede 5lb all round, but it proved no barrier to a comfortable success.

Brilliant performance under a penalty! Saffron Beach wins the Duke of Cambridge Stakes for William Buick and @JaneChappleHyam! #RoyalAscot pic.twitter.com/rG70nkjWQd
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) June 15, 2022

Making her first appearance since finishing fourth in the Dubai Turf on World Cup night at Meydan in March, Saffron Beach could be called the winner a long way out under a confident William Buick.

Once given her head, the 5-2 joint-favourite put the race to bed in a matter of strides and was good value for the winning margin of three and a half lengths over the staying-on Thunder Beauty.

Primo Bacio was close up in third, with both the other joint-favourite Bashkirova and the winner’s old foe Mother Earth failing to land a telling blow.

French raider Sibila Spain was withdrawn at the start.