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Dual Group 1 winner to remain with Jane Chapple-Hyam and be aimed at Saudi Cup
Najd Stud outbid Northern Farm's Shunsuke Yoshida to secure dual Group 1 winner Saffron Beach (New Bay) for 3.6 million guineas at Park Paddocks on Tuesday evening, one of 12 lots to realise seven figures.
Trained by Jane Chapple-Hyam in Newmarket, Saffron Beach has raced 13 times to date, winning six of those and placing in another three starts. Her Group 1 victories came in last year's Sun Chariot Stakes (1m) before adding the Prix Rothschild (1600m) at Deauville in August.
Najd Stud's Saad Bin Mishraf bought the four-year-old on behalf of Prince Faisal.
"She is for the Saudi Cup. Inshallah she will go to the Saudi Cup, Inshallah she will win it! She has good breeding from the dam's side to act on the dirt, and we like her physically. We thought she would not make that much. We will see about plans after," he said.
Saffron Beach is out of the winning Raven's Pass (Elusive Quality) mare Falling Petals. Her second dam, the stakes placed Infinite Spirit (Maria's Mon), is the grandam of the young Tally-Ho Stud-based sire Cotai Glory (Exceed And Excel).
"I am thrilled and very excited," said Chapple-Hyam. "It is a big honour, we have got a good winter to look forward. I think going around the ring she was waiting for the saddle, she was giving a few bops with her backend! She is in good order, she is tough, I believe she will get the nine furlongs in Saudi, you never know about the surface but we will give it a go."
"I think we will have a little rest, and then build her up and get her ready," outlined Chapple-Hyam. "I will have to do a very good racecourse gallop with her. When I sent her to Dubai World Cup meeting I felt that, although we ran fourth and went well, the ones who finished in front and had had a run, I am aware of that."
Former part-owner James Wigan said: "She has been wonderful for us. She looked fantastic tonight, Jane always has her looking fantastic and has done a wonderful job with her. We are very sorry to see her go, we have had a lot of fun."
