Connections of Saffron Beach (Ire) (New Bay {GB}) have announced on Valentine's Day that the dual Group 1 winner is set for a date with superstar stallion Frankel (GB) after bringing the curtain down on the career of Jane Chapple-Hyam's top-notcher.
Saffron Beach had been earmarked for a tilt at the G1 Saudi Cup after selling to Prince Faisal bin Khalid bin Abdulaziz's Najd Stud for 3.6 million at the Tattersalls December Mares Sale.
However, it was confirmed on Tuesday that the six-time winner, who recorded just shy of £1 million in career-earnings, would embark on a new career as a broodmare rather than take on the Saudi Cup challenge after an unsatisfactory scope.
Runner-up to Mother Earth (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) in the G1 1000 Guineas in 2021, Saffron Beach broke her Group 1 duck when accounting for that rival in the Sun Chariot S. back at Newmarket in October of that same season.
The second of her top-level triumphs came in the Prix Rothschild last summer, where Saffron Beach accounted for a classy field to win in comfortable fashion under William Buick.
Chapple-Hyam tweeted of the daughter of the winning Falling Petals (Ire) (Raven's Pass), “After a routine scope that was unsatisfactory for travel to the Saudi Cup, Saffron Beach has been retired from racing and will now visit Frankel at Juddmonte Farms.
“I wish to think Prince Faisal Bin Khaled and his team for entrusting me with her training and wish her all the best for her breeding career.”
Continua, a Raven's Pass half-sister to Falling Petals is the dam of Group 3 winner and rising sire star Cotai Glory (GB) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}).
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