A huge day of stakes racing at Deauville on Monday was highlighted by the Group I Prix Rothschild (1600m) for fillies and mares which was originally going to be the starting point of Verry Elleegant’s French campaign.
Even with her withdrawal due to fitness concerns there was still a strong field of mares with Saffron Bay taking the win over Group I winning three year-old filly Tenebrism.
Trained by Jane Chapple-Hyam, Saffron Beach won the Group I Newmarket Sun Chariot Stakes last year, so this is her second Group I victory with her overall record six wins from 11 starts.
More Group I goals are in store for Saffron Beach.
“They came to challenge Saffron Beach and she found another gear and went away so that's nice to see. We're very pleased because we were giving 7lb to younger rivals,” said Jame Chapple-Hyam.
“She's in the Matron at Leopardstown and the Sun Chariot at Newmarket and then if that all goes well she'll go for the Breeders' Cup. She travelled well to Dubai and travelled well over here so she's ticked that box. She's maturing now. As a younger horse she always had a travelling companion in the horse box with her and now since Dubai she's grown up. She can travel on her own now which makes the job easier for me.”
Bred by China Horse Club and sold as a foal at Tattersalls for 55,000 guineas, Saffron Beach runs for an ownership group that includes members of the Sangster family and is the best of six stakes-winners by Dubawi stallion New Bay, whose oldest progeny are 4YO’s.
She is from Falling Petals, a three-quarter sister to the dam of Exceed and Excel’s Group III winning son Cotai Glory, a promising young sire, whose oldest progeny are 3YO’s.
The Group III Prix Six Perfections (1400m) was won by the Charlie Hills trained two year-old filly Sydneyarms Chelsea, who became the first stakes-winner for her young sire Sioux Nation.
She won by three-quarters of a length and has won two of four starts.
A bargain £9000 purchase for Blandford Bloodstock from the Tattersalls Ireland September Yearling Sale, Sydneyarms Chelsea is the first foal from winning Tamayuz mare Wedding Dress, a grand-daughter of stakes-winner Capistrano Bay.
Sydneyarms Chelsea is the first stakes-winner among 20 first crop winners by Scat Daddy’s Group I winning son Sioux Nation, who shuttled to Swettenham stud in Victoria for one season. He has a modest crop of 40 Australian bred two year-olds to run this season.
The Group III Prix de Cabourg (1400m) was won by expensive two year-old Dark Angel colt The Antarctic trained by Aidan O’Brien for the Coolmore partners.
A consistent colt that had been stakes-placed twice previously, The Antarctic won by a length as favourite and has won three of six starts.
Bought for 750,000 guineas at the Tattersalls October Book 1 Yearling Sale by MV Magnier, The Antarctic is a full brother to champion sprinter and four time Group I winner Battaash being the second winner from Anna Law.
The Antarctic is the 88th stakes-winner for Dark Angel.
The Listed Prix du Carousel (3000m) ended a frustrating run of minor placings for four year-old Fastnet Rock mare Joie de Soir, who broke through for her first win of the year with a dominant three and a half length win under Ryan Moore.
A homebred for the Coolmore partners trained by Andre Fabre, Joie de Soir is a half-sister to Group III placed Villa d’Amore and stakes-placed Rose d’Etoile being the best of three winners from unraced Galileo mare Highest Ever, a daughter of Group I winner Alpine Rose.
A stakes-winner last year, Joie de Soir has won three of 11 starts and been stakes-placed a further six times.
She’s one 27 stakes-winners bred on the magic Fastnet Rock x Galileo cross that runs at 20% stakes-winners to runners.
