Dirty scope puts Saffron Beach Breeders’ Cup plan on hold
Filly disappointed in Saturday’s Sun Chariot at Newmarket.
Plans for a possible trip to the Breeders’ Cup are on hold for Saffron Beach after she scoped dirty following her defeat in defence of her Group One Royal Bahrain Sun Chariot crown at Newmarket on Saturday. The Jane Chapple-Hyam-trained daughter of New Bay has been in excellent heart this season, winning both the Duke of Cambridge at Royal Ascot and following up with her second top-level success in the Prix Rothschild at Deauville in August. Subsequently runner-up to Pearls Galore in the Matron Stakes at Leopardstown, she was made favourite to retain her Sun Chariot title on the Rowley Mile. However, William Buick’s mount was under pressure from two furlongs out and she finished eighth of nine to Fonteyn, beaten over 16 lengths. Chapple-Hyam was initially perplexed by the run and she explained: “It is very unfortunate. We got her back to the yard and we scoped her, because she was sound. “We thought we had better put a scope down her to see if there was anything going on inside, and she scoped dirty, with mucus. She is on a course of antibiotics. “It was very similar to when she ran a nothing race in last year’s Falmouth Stakes. She looked fine on Saturday and got the ‘best-turned-out’ award, too. “The frustrating thing is we scoped her after her last gallop, just to check, and everything was clean and she has showed no signs of coughing. Yet we put the scope down after the race and she had a dirty lung.” Owned by Lucy, Ben and Ollie Sangster in partnership with James Wigan, plans for Saffron Beach to run in the Breeders’ Cup at Keeneland next month are now on hold. Chapple-Hyam added: “We will regroup and I will see the owners at the Tattersalls Sales later in the week. “She has a few weeks to recover, but I don’t know at this stage how the treatment will go. “At least we have got an answer, because you can be left not knowing.”Follow us on Twitter racing365dotcom and like our Facebook page.
Latest
-
Casa No Mento a famous Punchestown winner for Twiston-Davies
‘We have to come over a give it a go. Willie had five in, but you have to try to beat him’.
-
Teahupoo confirmed as king of the stayers with stylish success
Cheltenham winner adds Punchestown crown to his CV.
-
Il Etait Temps floors Gaelic Warrior for Grade One honours
Punchestown one-two for Willie Mullins, but not in order expected.
-
Singing Banjo hits the right notes at Punchestown
Evergreen 14-year-old lifts La Touche Cup for the second time.
-
State Man targets unblemished season with Boodles Champion Hurdle success
Seven-year-old has been almost perfect since falling on his debut for Willie Mullins two and a half years ago.
-
Ramatuelle seeks to capitalise on Parker’s winning touch in Guineas
Former NBA superstar will be at Newmarket on Sunday – and so will Thierry Henry.
-
Connections confident Naqeeb has progressed enough to ask Gold Cup question
‘He was always a horse that was physically going to improve as he got older’.
-
National hero Murphy relishing Rosallion’s bid for 2000 Guineas glory
Richard Hannon’s three-year-old will take on Aidan O’Brien’s all-conquering City Of Troy.
-
French Gold Cup bid shelved for Il Est Francais
Connections take cautious approach and send impressive Kauto Star winner on summer break.