Saffron Beach defeats favorites in Sun Chariot
Saffron Beach notched her first Group 1 success Saturday at Newmarket with a sharp victory in the Sun Chariot Stakes.
Going straight to the lead under William Buick, Saffron Beach poured it on through the final furlong to post a three-length win over favored Mother Earth, the 1000 Guineas winner this past May, in this one-mile contest.
Well-fancied Snow Lantern struggled home last of 12.
Saffron Beach, a 3-year-old filly by New Bay out of Falling Petals, by Raven’s Pass, finished second behind Mother Earth in the Guineas but wound up near the back of the pack in two subsequent starts before finding herself again with a Group 3 win in August at Sandown Park. Saturday’s performance – which trainer Jane Chapple-Hyam hinted might not be her last this season – appeared to be a career best by a considerable margin.
Trueshan triumphs over Stradivarius in Prix du Cadran
Trueshan defeated Stradivarius in a battle of strong stayers, winning the Group 1 Prix du Cadran on Saturday at Longchamp.
Trueshan, better suited than his aging rival to a course rated “very soft,” won this 2 1/2-mile race by four lengths over Stradivarius, whose owner, Bjorn Nielsen, hinted that Stradivarius could soon be headed for retirement. Stradivarius has compiled a remarkable record of 19 wins from 31 starts but is in the autumn of his 7-year-old season and things have not come quite as easily for him this year.
Trueshan, ridden by James Doyle for trainer Alan King, is a 5-year-old whose connections only began focusing on true staying races last fall. Trueshan, by Planteur, now is 3 for 3 in turf races at two miles or longer.
Loving Dream won the card’s other Group 1, the Prix de Royallieu for fillies and mares over 1 3/4 miles.
In Group 2 action, Dubai Honor won the Prix Dollar, Real World won the Prix Daniel Wildenstein, and Manobo tallied in the Prix Chaudenay.
Dubai Honor tallied by 1 1/2 lengths over the capable Magny Cours in the 10-furlong Dollar, his third win in a row for trainer William Haggas. Four-year-old Real World, Frankie Dettori riding for Saeed bin Suroor and Godolphin, scored a mild upset over soft-ground lover The Revenant in the one-mile Wildenstein, while Godolphin and trainer Charlie Appleby could have a serious long-distance horse on their hands in Manobo. The massive, powerful 3-year-old gelding by Sea The Stars now has four wins from as many starts and saw out Saturday’s 15-furlong trip over laboring ground.
Love out of Arc
Love, whose 4-year-old season has not unfolded as hoped after a brilliant 3-year-old campaign in 2020, was scratched Saturday night from Sunday’s Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe because of a slightly elevated temperature, trainer Aidan O’Brien said. O’Brien didn’t rule out Love racing again this fall and since the filly prefers firm turf, a Breeders’ Cup race at Del Mar could present itself as an option. Love also could be considered for the Hong Kong Cup over 1 1/4 miles or the Hong Kong Vase over 1 1/2 miles in December at Sha Tin. Love likely would have hated the going on Sunday at Longchamp, where heavy rain was falling Saturday night over a course already rated "very soft" for Saturday's races.