Saffron Beach proves too strong in Prix Rothschild

Jane Chapple-Hyam’s filly lands another Group One prize.

Saffron Beach struck Group One gold for the second time with an impressive display in the Prix Rothschild at Deauville.

Unbeaten in two juvenile starts, Jane Chapple-Hyam’s stable star finished second to Mother Earth in last season’s 1000 Guineas before turning the tables to land the Sun Chariot in October.

Having kicked off her four-year-old campaign by finishing fourth in Dubai, Saffron Beach claimed Royal Ascot glory in the Duke of Cambridge Stakes in June and was the 8-11 favourite for her French debut.

Just as she did at the Royal meeting, Saffron Beach forced the pace from the off under William Buick, with Aidan O’Brien’s Tenebrism positioned in her slipstream and the Paddy Twomey-trained Pearls Galore leading a three-horse group that raced closer to the stands rail.

With Pearls Galore weakening out of contention, it turned into a three-way fight between Saffron Beach, Tenebrism and the Francis-Henri Graffard-trained Malavath racing inside the final furlong.

Tenebrism, bidding to supplement her Group One victory in the Prix Jean Prat three weeks ago and in receipt of 7lb from Saffron Beach, did her best to make a race of it, but Chapple-Hyam’s charge found more once challenged and won going away at the finish.

“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.”

Jane Chapple-Hyam at Royal Ascot
Jane Chapple-Hyam at Royal Ascot (Simon Milham/PA)

Paddy Power cut Saffron Beach to 8-1 from 10-1 for the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf and Chapple-Hyam confirmed a trip to Keeneland was on the agenda.

“She’s in the Matron at Leopardstown and the Sun Chariot at Newmarket and then, hopefully, if that all goes well, the Breeders’ Cup,” the Newmarket handler added.

“We saw that she 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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