By Tom Frary
Having impressed when scoring on debut in a seven-furlong Sept. 26 Newmarket maiden, Saffron Beach (Ire) (New Bay {GB}) returned to the same course and distance to enhance her reputation in Friday's G3 Godolphin Lifetime Care Oh So Sharp S. at Newmarket. Settled in second early by Adam Kirby, the 9-4 favourite took over passing the two-furlong pole and asserted for a half-length success from Thank You Next (Ire) (No Nay Never), with Shine For You (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}) 1 1/4 lengths away in third. “She's quite a nice filly and a strong galloper,” the winning rider said. “She's a filly with a good mind as well, as she was backed up relatively quickly and will be a lovely prospect for next year.”
Saffron Beach, whose task was made easier here by the withdrawal of the G2 Rockfel S. second Nazuna (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) and the flop of the G3 Weld Park S. runner-up Thinking of You (American Pharoah), could be off to Keeneland with trainer Jane Chapple-Hyam eyeing the Breeders' Cup. “That was very good and the staff at home have done a wonderful job,” she said. “She is a quick learner and I'd love to have a crack at the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf, if the owners will allow me. We know she is good. I had Annie Skates who was second in the Juvenile Fillies' race at the Breeders' Cup and this one is probably a quicker learner than Annie. For what she has done at home, we thought this was a suitable step up in grade.”
Sporting the Ben Sangster silks and owned in partnership with James Wigan, Saffron Beach is out of the Godolphin Polytrack winner Falling Petals (Ire) (Raven's Pass) who was bought by the China Horse Club at the 2016 Goffs November Sale for €235,000. She is a daughter of the dual stakes-placed Infinite Spirit (Maria's Mon) who also threw the G3 Criterion S. winner and G1 Middle Park S. third Huntdown (Elusive Quality). His full-sister Continua is the dam of three stakes performers headed by the smart sprinter Cotai Glory (GB) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}), who captured the G3 World Trophy and G3 Molecomb S. and was placed in the G1 Kings Stand S. and GII Nearctic S. A granddaughter of the G3 Matron S. winner and G1 Coronation S. and GI Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup runner-up Eternal Reve (Diesis {GB}), Falling Petals' son of Cotai Glory's sire Exceed and Excel sells on Monday at the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale Book 2. She also has a 2020 filly by Australia (GB).
Friday, Newmarket, Britain
GODOLPHIN LIFETIME CARE OH SO SHARP S.-G3, £47,000, Newmarket, 10-9, 2yo, f, 7fT, 1:27.00, sf.
1–SAFFRON BEACH (IRE), 126, f, 2, by New Bay (GB)
1st Dam: Falling Petals (Ire), by Raven's Pass
2nd Dam: Infinite Spirit, by Maria's Mon
3rd Dam: Eternal Reve, by Diesis (GB)
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. (55,000gns Wlg '18 TATFOA). O-Mrs B V Sangster, J Wigan & O Sangster; B-China Horse Club International Ltd (IRE); T-Jane Chapple-Hyam; J-Adam Kirby. £26,654. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $41,070. Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Thank You Next (Ire), 126, f, 2, No Nay Never–Two Pass (Ire), by Mtoto (GB). (€34,000 Wlg '18 GOFNOV; £52,000 Ylg '19 GOFFPR). O-Middleham Park CXXII & Steven Rocco; B-Grenane House Stud (IRE); T-Richard Hannon. £10,105.
3–Shine For You (GB), 126, f, 2, Siyouni (Fr)–Lady Viola (GB), by Sir Percy (GB). (£140,000 Ylg '19 GOFFPR; 85,000gns 2yo '20 TATBRE). O-Taylor & O'Dwyer and Partners; B-Mr & Mrs A E Pakenham (GB); T-Richard Hannon. £5,057.
Margins: HF, 1 1/4, HF. Odds: 2.25, 9.00, 10.00.
Also Ran: Mamba Wamba (Ire), Setarhe (Ire), Quiet Assassin (Ire), Thinking of You, Alicestar (GB), Emulate Rose (GB). Scratched: Nazuna (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
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