Tag Archive for: Jane Chapple-Hyam

Egan shines on Salamanca in Easter Classic

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David Egan got his fractions spot on in front as Salamanca made most of the running to win the BetUK All-Weather Easter Classic Middle Distance Handicap at Newcastle.

Egan employed similar tactics 12 months ago to win on Elegant Man and this time teamed up with trainer Jane Chapple-Hyam in the colours of Peter Harris.

The four-year-old cost 335,000 guineas but his pedigree backs it up being by Sea The Stars out of Awesometank, a smart filly for William Haggas who finished second in the Beverly D. Stakes.

Old Harrovian (white face) got going late but could not catch the winner
Old Harrovian (white face) got going late but could not catch the winner (Richard Sellers/PA)

Lightly raced, the 14-1 chance was having just his sixth start – it would have been one more but he took part in a void race at Chelmsford when the starting stalls failed to be removed from the track.

Penzance, Glen Buck and Charlotte’s Web were all close enough if good enough, but it was the favourite Old Harrovian who threw down the final challenge.

Oisin Murphy looked confident two furlongs from home but still had several lengths to make up.

Andrew Balding’s runner soon changed gear and was catching hand over fist, but the line came too soon and he failed by a neck, with a short head back to Charlotte’s Web.

Chapple-Hyam said: “It was well mapped out to come here for the championship and when you get a wide draw your six months of planning looks like it’s all down the gurgler, as I said to Mr Harris before the race.

“It was an excellent ride, he clocked it properly in his head. We’re thrilled we’ve seen the horse that we believed in and how he’s trained at home. He’s a good horse.”

Of Harris, Chapple-Hyam added: “He never interferes, he’s solid as you like, he’s a great sounding board and I appreciate his support.”

Former trainer Harris said: “I enjoy most being on the gallops, that is the chief joy and this is the icing on the cake.”

Assistant trainer Anna Lisa Balding said of Old Harrovian: “What a little star – he has run a hell of a race.

“He is a very difficult ride; you have to try to settle him and, because of where he was drawn (13), he had to sit right back, a long way off the pace. They have gone a good pace for the first two furlongs and then slowed it down, so got a bit keen and battled with Oisin, but he has flown home and I am sure he has a big one in him.”

Mill Stream to be saved for Ascot and Sha Tin targets

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Mill Stream is being freshened up ahead of a shot at big sprinting prizes both at home and abroad later in the year.

Jane Chapple-Hyam’s four-year-old has been a consistent performer in the speed events this term, winning the 1895 Duke of York Clipper Stakes before placing in Group One company at Royal Ascot and then opening his account at the highest level when claiming the July Cup.

He was a respectable fifth when seeking further top honours at Deauville in the Prix Maurice de Gheest earlier this month, but after a busy first half to the 2024 campaign, will skip Haydock’s Betfair Sprint Cup in September, with connections eager to head into the latter part of the year in peak form.

Next up will be a second crack at Ascot’s Qipco British Champions Sprint Stakes, after which the son of Gleneagles will make a trip to the Far East for the valuable Longines Hong Kong Sprint at Sha Tin on December 8.

“He’s turned out, having a little mini-break and then at this stage he will be next seen at Ascot on October 19, then on to Hong Kong,” said Chapple-Hyam.

Mill Stream after winning the July Cup
Mill Stream after winning the July Cup (David Davies for the Jockey Club/PA)

“He’s had five runs in two months and we just felt if we wanted to go to Champions Day with not a tired horse, it was wise to miss Haydock and get him fresh and ready for Ascot and then a trip to Hong Kong.

“He’ll come back in on Monday and will slowly work his way up to being prepared for October.

“Last year, when he went to Ascot, he went there a tired horse and this year we want to go there with a solid chance. Everyone is looking forward to the two runs at the back-end of the year.”

Mill Stream edges out Swingalong to grab July Cup glory

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Hot favourite Inisherin could finish only fifth as Mill Stream emerged triumphant in the My Pension Expert July Cup at Newmarket.

Following a stunning display in the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot last month, the Kevin Ryan-trained Inisherin was all the rage to beat his elders for the first time as the 11-8 market leader, but things did not go to script.

Art Power took the 11-strong field along for much of the six-furlong contest, closely pursued by Swingalong, and the latter had poked her head in front by the time she reached the final furlong.

In a race that turned into something of a scrap, Jane Chapple-Hyam’s 11-1 shot Mill Stream – third in the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes at the royal meeting – was produced with a well-timed challenge on the far side of the track by William Buick, swooping late to deny Swingalong by a neck.

Vandeek, who suffered a surprise defeat at the hands of Inisherin in the Sandy Lane Stakes at Haydock in May before missing the rematch in the Commonwealth Cup owing to an unsatisfactory scope, shaped with plenty of encouragement in third.

Art Power boxed on to finish fourth ahead of the slightly disappointing Inisherin in fifth.

Chapple-Hyam said: “We were doing cartwheels when it rained, as it just took the sting out of the ground midweek. I think that is all he needs. He came here for a little bit of practice the other day.

“He’s never sparkling in his work, he just gets there but that’s him and as long as we know that, and William knows that, it’s fine, but he’s done it now, he’s got the Group One.

“You knew there was going to be a lot of speed and when they were doing 10 and change at halfway and he was sat in behind, I just knew he’d pick up and I’m thrilled.

Mill Stream just got the better of Swingalong
Mill Stream just got the better of Swingalong (Nigel French/PA)

“He likes it here, he’s been second here, so it’s nice to turn it round and get the win and he ran well at Ascot in third on very quick ground there.

“It’s nice to win here with it being my home track and my favourite track.

“I’m a very lucky lady to have Peter Harris as an owner, he knows the game and he believes in the horse too, so it’s good. It’s nice to join him and Gai (Waterhouse, who Chapple-Hyam had a winner for earlier in the day with Asian Daze) as a Group One-winning trainer.

“Peter has a good team in the yard, he supports them and he supports me, so to go and win a Group One for him, that’s what he wants and what the yard needs, so it’s good.

“He likes three weeks between races if you look back, so we’ll go to Deauville next for the Prix Maurice de Gheest, he’ll love the six and a half furlongs there – as a young horse, he got six there very well, so six-and-a-half, bring it on!”

Buick was completing a four-timer on the day after he previously enjoyed a treble for Godolphin and Charlie Appleby courtesy of Desert Flower, First Conquest and Ancient Truth.

The dual champion jockey was also securing the 100th Group One win of his stellar riding career.

He said: “He has been such a good horse for me this season. He is a Duke of York winner and ran well at Royal Ascot. We felt he had a bit more to give and Jane and the team convinced me he was a much better horse today – he duly was.

“That bit of rain really suited him and I was always so comfortable. He is really genuine and puts his head out. It was well deserved.

“This is my first July Cup and I’m absolutely thrilled.”

Mill Stream digs deep to take Duke of York honours

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Mill Stream just got up on the line to land a thrilling renewal of the 1895 Duke of York Clipper Stakes at York.

Ridden by William Buick and trained by Jane Chapple-Hyam, Mill Stream was sent off the 4-1 joint favourite for the Group Two affair but had to battle hard in a four-way fight to the line.

Mill Stream eventually edged ahead of Shouldvebeenaring by a nose, with a photo needed to separate the pair.

Diligent Harry is still looking for a first victory on turf as he was beaten into third by a neck, with Washington Heights a further neck adrift in fourth.

Mill Stream is now is 8-1 favourite from 14-1 with Coral for the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot and Chapple-Hyam would be eager to tackle that race, if owner Peter Harris agrees.

She said: “He’s a tough, brave horse and he’s come on a lot since (finishing second in) the Abernant but he’s only just won.

“I think he’s pretty versatile, he goes on any ground. It was soft when he won in France last year twice but quick in the Abernant.

“I’d like to go to Ascot on the Saturday (Jubilee) but I’ll see what Mr Harris wants to do.

“Mr Harris has landed me with some nice horses and I’m in a lucky position, I’ve got 18 for him so it’s nice to win a big race for him and we’ve got Rolica, the filly, to look forward to and some colts coming through.

“I think he’s good enough to run in the Jubilee, I’d like to see the splits as it’s on the slow side of good today but he’s against older horses.

“Mr Harris is very easy to deal with, he comes up every Saturday morning. He was out of the game for 15 years but now he’s in big. His daughter Alison has her horses with Mr (James) Fanshawe.”

Tom Marquand and Tiber Flow appeared to escape any serious injury when they came down with a furlong still to run.

Chapple-Hyam added: “I wasn’t sure if we’d won and I appreciate they couldn’t show the replay because of the faller but thankfully Tom and the horse look OK.”

Buick was more than satisfied with the winner’s performance and said: “I got carried left a little bit but he really put his head out and I was delighted he got the verdict.

“He’s been knocking on the door a few times, hopefully this is his year as three-year-olds can struggle when sprinting, he could have a big year ahead of him.”

Jane Chapple-Hyam has her eyes on Ascot now
Jane Chapple-Hyam has her eyes on Ascot now (Mike Egerton/PA)

Tim Palin, racing manager for Shouldvebeenaring’s owners Middleham Park Racing, was relieved to see the grey bounce back from a disappointing run when favourite for the Abernant Stakes at Newmarket.

He said: “Mill Stream was a worthy winner on the day, it was obviously close in the photo, and we’re just delighted with how our horse ran because we couldn’t really explain what happened last time – maybe there was a slightly bounce factor going into the Abernant from the Lady Wulfruna (at Wolverhampton).

“We’ve got our horse back, a horse who was running well in Group Ones at the backend of last year in the Haydock Sprint Cup and the Prix da la Foret, and we’ll continue to ply our trade in Group Ones and Group Twos.

“He’s in a Group Three over seven furlongs at ParisLongchamp a week on Sunday and he’s also in the Group Two Greenlands Stakes at the Curragh a week on Saturday, so he could go into one of those.

“He’s in both sprint races at Royal Ascot and probably him playing at home is the Prix Maurice de Gheest and the Haydock Sprint Cup, so I would say those would be his two Derbys, if you can use that term for a sprinter.”

Diligent Harry’s trainer, Clive Cox, could look to Royal Ascot with his runner, though a drop back from six furlongs is likely.

He said: “I’m very proud, it was a big run. I thought we’d done our fighting there and then the first and second came at us very late in the day.

“I’m very pleased he’s in a good place and Richard (Kingscote) gave him a super ride, I couldn’t be more happy bar winning.

“He’s in the shorter race at Royal Ascot (King Charles III Stakes) as I think a stiff five furlongs is more in our favour at the track than stretching him out over a stiff six.”

Chapple-Hyam hoping Stavvy makes the Festival cut

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Jane Chapple-Hyam could saddle her first Cheltenham Festival runner on a rare foray to the National Hunt scene if Stavvy sneaks into the Weatherbys Champion Bumper.

Although most commonly associated with big-race success on the Flat, Staavy earnt his shot at Prestbury Park glory when cruising to a nine-length success at Southwell last month.

That was his handler’s first ever victory under National Hunt rules and the intention is for the four-year-old to be declared for the Grade One event, even though his spot in the final line-up is not guaranteed, with a safety factor of 24 meaning seven of the 31 confirmed entrants could miss out.

Chapple-Hyam is hoping for some good fortune at declaration time on Monday to enable herself and her staff the chance to experience the Festival for the first time, having enjoyed plying their trade amongst the jumps fraternity with Stavvy this winter.

She said: “I haven’t got a runner just yet as he needs two not to declare, so I’m going to have to wait and see!

“The plan is to run but we have a ballot number and we need two not to run, so it’s not certain just yet.

“The staff have enjoyed it and it has been good fun. It’s been a wet winter and it has given the yard a bit of flavour and something to enjoy which has been good.

“He won well at Southwell considering there was an odds-on shot in the field. It was heavy ground and that shows that if Cheltenham was to go slow or dead, then he is able to handle that.”

“The owners have enjoyed watching him progress and he was bought to be a Flat runner, but he is showing us enough to have a go at this. If he gets in, he won’t let us down.”

Stavvy was ridden to victory at Southwell by Bryony Frost, who has also encroached on Flat territory recently to put the big-race outsider through his paces at home in Newmarket.

Chapple-Hyam is hoping the 28-year-old will be available to do the steering if making the cut for Wednesday’s Grade One event – with the gelding available at odds of 100-1, the same price Mudawin was when landing the Ebor for the Australian native in 2006.

Jane Chapple-Hyam hopes Bryony Frost will be able to ride Stavvy at the Cheltenham Festival
Jane Chapple-Hyam hopes Bryony Frost will be able to ride Stavvy at the Cheltenham Festival (Peter Byrne/PA)

She added: “Bryony is jocked up at the moment but it all depends what Mr Nicholls does with his three entries and he obviously has first call – so that’s another thing I will have to sit and wait on and I just have to wait for her agent to let me know if she is available or not.

“As long as the horse stays fit and well until Wednesday, we hope to be competing and I hope Bryony is available to ride him because she has sat on him twice (on course) and has come and ridden him here at home in Newmarket.

“Mudawin won the Ebor at 100-1, so it’s never say never.”

Mill Stream poised to take up Champions Sprint engagement

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Mill Stream is on course for one final outing of the season in the Qipco British Champions Sprint Stakes at Ascot later this month.

The Jane Chapple-Hyam-trained three-year-old gave a glimpse of his ability when fourth behind Chaldean in the Acomb Stakes as a juvenile, but has thrived over sprinting distances this term and compiled a Deauville double in the summer as he stepped out of the handicap ranks into Pattern company.

He was enterprisingly supplemented by connections for the Betfair Sprint Cup last month and the thriving speedster was not disgraced finishing sixth, beaten just three-and-a-quarter lengths by Regional in his first outing at Group One level.

The Peter Harris-owned son of Gleneagles is now set for another taste of top-table action on British Champions Day.

“He’s really good and is heading for Ascot on October 21, we’re going to give it a go,” said Chapple-Hyam.

“I know it is pretty late for a three-year-old, but he’s in a good place and we’ve had a mild start to October.

“He was just a bit gassy up on the front (at Haydock), but they all were and the times reflected that. But we’re pleased with how he has come out of the race.

“He’s young and he’s still got to mature. He will have a roll out in this race and then we’ve got a nice winter to look forward to him over. He’ll be more mature (next year).

“At three they are just learning to leave the gates and get involved. We’re looking forward to him.”

Champions Day option for speedy Mill Stream

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A tilt at Qipco British Champions Day could be on the cards for Mill Stream having continued his Deauville love affair in the Prix de Meautry.

Having won the Prix Moonlight Cloud over track and trip earlier this month, Jane Chapple-Hyam’s colt thrived on his quick return to the Normandy coast, continuing his rise up the sprinting ranks by delivering a decisive blow over Garrus in the hands of Marco Ghiani.

Charlie Hills’ runner was a length and three-quarters behind Mill Stream in second and Chapple-Hyam is delighted by how the son of Gleneagles, who showed plenty of ability as a juvenile, has progressed throughout his three-year-old campaign.

She said: “He was very good and very competitive and has come out of the race in great order.

“He’s got the hang of it now. It takes three-year-olds a bit of time to get the hang of it and the Listed race the first time in Deauville was three-year-olds only.

“On Sunday he stepped up and met the older boys, who are more conditioned and professional at sprinting and it just showed how quickly he learnt from the Listed race when being in with the older horses. You can only take positives from the race going forward.

“He’s lightly raced and we used the first one (this season) at Haydock where he was kicked off the park. But we needed that as he had been off a long time and he was heavy and stuffy, so we had to start somewhere.

“He’s easy to manage and he’s that type of sprinter, in the sense he doesn’t boil over or anything and is good to manage.”

Owned by leisure tycoon Peter Harris, Mill Stream holds an entry for the British Champions Sprint Stakes on October 21 and could now be handed the opportunity to test his talent at Group One level.

“We don’t really have a plan as such, he’s in the Ascot Sprint but I don’t really have a plan beyond that,” added Chapple-Hyam.

“It’s the last sprint Group One in Europe. He’s not in the Abbaye and that would probably be a bit speedy for him over five at this stage.

“Now he’s got the hang of it, you would look forward to seeing him run against the English older horses.

“Garrus is a good line and Batwan (third) did a lot of racing in Dubai and then back in France so he’s not a poor horse either, he’s well campaigned.”

Chapple-Hyam hoping for Claymore resurgence at Haydock

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Claymore, who gave Jane Chapple-Hyam a notable Royal Ascot success in last season’s Hampton Court Stakes, will head to Haydock for the Rose of Lancaster Stakes in a fortnight’s time.

The lightly-raced four-year-old had been off the track since last July when reappearing in the Brigadier Gerard Stakes at Sandown in May.

However, he was last of six, beaten some 49 lengths by Hukum, and reportedly bled.

But Chapple-Hyam is confident he is nearing a return to action and said: “Claymore had a little hiccup at Sandown, but he is back in full training now.

“We will look maybe at Haydock. We’ll see how he performs over the next fortnight, but he’s been doing OK.”

While the Newmarket handler has been held up by a bug which has affected her juveniles in particular, the well-touted El Bodon, who was beaten narrowly on debut at Yarmouth, got off the mark at Lingfield and will now face a step up in class at Newmarket.

“El Bodon had the mucky lungs, just like Born To Rock (fifth of seven to Kylian on his return in the Listed Dragon Stakes at Sandown on Friday), so we went for the penalty kick at Lingfield, because we had a fit horse.

“He will run in the July Stakes at Newmarket on the Thursday. It is a Group race and he is where we think he is.”

Meanwhile Quatre Bras, who was beaten half a length when third to Lightning Leo on his Yarmouth seven-furlong debut, will also face tougher company.

Chapple-Hyam said: “The other one I liked, Quatre Bras, is in the Superlative. He was second-favourite on the Saturday in the seven-furlong race at Royal Ascot (Chesham), but we had to scratch him too, because he had a mucky lung.

“He’s in the Superlative on Saturday, as we think he’s good enough to be there.

“I’d say this bug swept through Newmarket. It hasn’t touched my older horses – as you could see, I had a 40-1 shot when Streaky Bay won at Yarmouth (on Thursday) – but it has gone through my two-year-olds.

“I’ve got colts in one yard and fillies and mares in the other. It is just unfortunate that the young ones are getting it and the older ones have have a stronger immune system. That’s all it is.”

Claymore primed for Brigadier Gerard return

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Royal Ascot winner Claymore, off the track since July, will make his return in the Brigadier Gerard Stakes at Sandown on May 25, with the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe a potential long-term target.

The Jane Chapple-Hyam-trained colt could face last year’s returning Derby winner Desert Crown in what is shaping up into a mouthwatering renewal of the 10-furlong Group Three race.

Claymore defeated the highly-touted Reach For The Moon in the Hampton Court at Royal Ascot in June, but suffered a setback after finishing fourth to Sir Busker in the York Stakes the following month, and was not seen thereafter.

Chapple-Hyam said: “Claymore is going for the Brigadier Gerard. He just got very jarred up at York.

“We got him ready to run at the Arc meeting and then it went bog-soft everywhere. It went from one extreme to the other, so we decided to pull the pin and have a lovely four-year-old for this year.”

A son of New Bay, Claymore finished runner-up to subsequent Irish 2,000 Guineas winner Native Trail in the Craven on his first outing last year before a wide draw and very soft ground scuppered his chances in the French Guineas.

Should all go well at Sandown, Chapple-Hyam will likely return to Ascot and raised the possibility of an Arc bid.

She added: “We will see what we do in the Brigadier Gerard, but he is in the Hardwicke at Royal Ascot and I don’t know, is he a 50-1 shot for the Arc?

“The entries were on Tuesday and we’ve put him in – there’s no harm. You just don’t know if he’ll make the cut, but better to be there than having to supplement.”

Meanwhile, the Peter Harris-owned Mill Stream could head straight to the Commonwealth Cup.

The Gleneagles colt was narrowly defeated by subsequent Gimcrack scorer Noble Style in a Newmarket novice last season, before going on to finish fourth to this season’s 2000 Guineas winner Chaldean, over seven furlongs, in York’s Group Three Acomb last August.

However, his trainer believes he is a sprinter and will send him straight to the Royal meeting.

Chapple-Hyam said: “We are dropping him back to six furlongs. He could go straight to the Commonwealth Cup. I don’t think there is a race available for him, so he’ll probably tootle off for a racecourse gallop somewhere.”

Jane Chapple-Hyam/Ascot
Jane Chapple-Hyam is targeting the Royal meeting again (Simon Milham/PA)

Royal Hunt Cup runner-up Intellogent will bid to go one better in the same race next month and will have his prep run in a Newbury handicap on Saturday week. The eight-year-old was fourth to Ottoman Fleet on his return in a nine-furlong Group Three contest at Newmarket last month.

“He just got tired in the Earl of Sefton,” said the trainer. “He’s probably not a Group horse any more, but he likes these big fields.

“He did well at Ascot and was then third in the John Smith’s York. He’ll do the Hunt Cup and John Smith’s again.”

Meanwhile, the full-brother to Chapple-Hyam’s Group One winner Saffron Beach, who was sold for 3.6million guineas at the end of last season, arrived with the Newmarket handler on Tuesday morning.

Granger Bay, who fetched €450,000 at the Goffs Orby Sale, will run in the colours of Fiona Carmichael, having been in pre-training with Malcolm Bastard.

Saffron Beach won two top-class races for the trainer, who will also condition her full brother
Saffron Beach won two top-class races for the trainer, who will also condition her full brother (David Davies/PA)

“I am a very lucky lady to be given the honour to train him,” said Chapple-Hyam. “He was bought from the Goffs sales and sent to Malcolm to be broken in.

“We felt we didn’t want to rush him into a training yard in January or February as is the normal time slot, we said wait until after the Guineas, so he arrived on Tuesday morning.

“Fiona also has Intellogent and Aplomb in the yard. It was really nice to get the call and I’m very happy with the squad I’ve got this year.”

Blanchland seeking to establish Derby credentials

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Jane Chapple-Hyam is dreaming of the Betfred Derby with Blanchland ahead of his return in the bet365 Feilden Stakes at Newmarket.

The son of Farhh finished in midfield at Newbury on debut, but played a central role in his next three outings at two, beating some useful operators when getting off the mark at Newcastle.

Owned by leisure entrepreneur Peter Harris, the colt was last seen finishing second over 10 furlongs in the Zetland Stakes last October and Chapple-Hyam has been encouraged to see the horse in third on that occasion, Dear My Friend, come out and frank the form by winning the Burradon Stakes.

Blanchland (left) on the way to finishing second in the Zetland Stakes
Blanchland (left) on the way to finishing second in the Zetland Stakes (Tim Goode/PA)

“We’re looking forward to it,” said Chapple-Hyam.

“He’s trained and wintered well. He’s grown and matured and we’re very pleased with how he’s taken to the early spring. We always like to see form boosted and Newcastle was good to see from the horse that finished third (in the Zetland).

“Blanchland knows the track and has trained over there in his gallops and we’re looking forward to it. The Epsom Derby is the goal but we have to come through Wednesday first.”

The Clarehaven team of John and Thady Gosden have won this Listed event three times in the last 10 years, including with subsequent Derby hero Golden Horn in 2015.

This time they field Intinso, who looked a talented prospect when registering a three-and-a-quarter-length success at Newcastle on debut.

“He won what looked a fairly poor race but he won it quite comfortably,” said Teddy Grimthorpe, racing manager to Intinso’s owner, Imad Al Sagar.

“He’s wintered well and been very straightforward coming up to this. John has been pleased with him, he’s a lovely actioned horse and this looks a good spot to test his credentials.”

There is strong Godolphin representation in the form of Bold Act – who is attempting to extend a four-race winning run following his recent win at Chelmsford – and stablemate Regal Honour.

Bold Act ridden by William Buick wins the Federation Of Bloodstock Agents Nursery during day one of the Cambridgeshire Meeting at Newmarket Racecourse
Bold Act ridden by William Buick wins the Federation Of Bloodstock Agents Nursery during day one of the Cambridgeshire Meeting at Newmarket Racecourse (Mike Egerton/PA)

Both have course victories to their name and have the chance to play their way into Classic contention for Charlie Appleby.

“Bold Act was last seen winning at Chelmsford. He’s won his last four starts and has progressed into the type who deserves to be pitched in at this level,” the Moulton Paddocks handler told www.godolphin.com.

“Regal Honour has course experience, being placed and also winning on the Rowley Mile. On pedigree, stepping up in trip should suit him.”

James Ferguson’s Canberra Legend has just the one start to his name but could not have been more impressive when stylishly opening his account at Newcastle in February, while Kolsai landed a competitive maiden on the Rowley Mile in the autumn and Roger Varian is optimistic he can make his presence felt in what is a strong line-up of colts.

“We’re dipping our toe into the Feilden and it looks a strong race,” said Varian.

“He’s a nice colt and he did nothing wrong last year. He was runner-up on his debut and then probably won a reasonable novice event at Newmarket in the autumn – those races usually work out.

“He’s stepping up two furlongs but we think he will stay. It looks a field full of lovely colts loaded with potential. Hopefully our guy fits into that category and we will see how we fare before making any future plans.”

Ralph Beckett’s Captain Wierzba, beaten the best part of 10 lengths in the Vertem Futurity in October, Galactic Jack (Andrew Balding) and Killybegs Warrior (Charlie Johnston) complete the field.

Saffron Beach retired after scope ends Saudi Cup hopes

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Jane Chapple-Hyam has had to abandon plans to take Saffron Beach to Saudi Arabia due to a setback and she has instead been retired ahead of a meeting with Frankel.

The five-year-old mare was a dual Grade One winner on the track, in the Sun Chariot Stakes and the Prix Rothschild, and her new connections will be hoping she can produce something of a similar ilk.

She raced in the colours of Ben and Ollie Sangster and James Wigan, and was also a Royal Ascot winner last year in the Duke of Cambridge Stakes.

The partnership sent her to Tattersalls in November where she raised a mammoth 3,600,00 guineas when bought by Najd Stud with the aim of winning the Saudi Cup.

However, that has had to be written off due to a dirty scope and her racing days are over.

Chapple-Hyam tweeted: “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.”