'Let's go and do our best' - Saffron Beach confirmed for Cazoo Oaks bid

Jane Chapple-Hyam has confirmed it is all systems go for Saffron Beach to take her place in the Cazoo Oaks at Epsom next week after a racecourse gallop at the track on Monday.

Saffron Beach, second in the 1,000 Guineas behind Mother Earth, worked over a mile under Adam Kirby as part of a morning of gallops for Oaks and Derby hopefuls in her first racecourse experience away from Newmarket, having raced exclusively on the Rowley Mile in four starts.

Her connections were pleased with how she handled her first experience of the unique camber of Epsom and will bid to go one place better in her second Classic, for which she is a best-priced 14-1.

"She's going for the Oaks. We are all getting excited for next week, let's go and do our best," Chapple-Hyam said.

"It was the first time she's ever travelled beyond Newmarket. There was an accident on the M25 and she had to stand in her box for 45 minutes, so that was good practice for travelling!

"It was a good experience and she took it in well. Adam was pleased with the way she handled Tattenham Corner and the straight. She was nice and balanced.

"The ground was a bit heavy today, so we just did a strong canter. She handles any ground, so it should be no issue whatever it is next week."

Cazoo Oaks entries and betting

Saffron Beach's Oaks participation means Kirby will have fancied rides in both Classics after he was confirmed to ride John Leeper in the Derby last week – another who had a first experience of Epsom's undulations at the gallops morning.

Chapple-Hyam added: "I reckon there's got to be a Kirby each-way Oaks and Derby double; a lot of people will be having five pounds each-way on it!

"He grafts hard and is always in the car back and forth, especially in the winter months. He deserves his crack at them."

Saffron Beach and Adam Kirby (red silks): finished a gallant second in the 1,000 Guineas behind Mother Earth earlier in the monthCredit: Mark Cranham

Cazoo Derby contender One Ruler (Charlie Appleby) and Oaks entry Ocean Road (Hugo Palmer) were others to gallop at Epsom, as was Pretty Polly Stakes winner Mystery Angel (George Boughey), who needs to be supplemented if she is to run in the fillies' Classic.

Clerk of the course Andrew Cooper is hopeful the two-day fixture will take place on ground no slower than good despite the recent heavy rainfall.

The track has been hit with 75mm of rainfall in May, but drier weather with a rise in temperatures is forecast to kick in from Wednesday ahead of the meeting on June 4 and 5.

He said: "It's been a wet month for us, but it means we have no immediate need to be irrigating, nature is taking care of that, and things are coming along nicely. Knowing Epsom, if it's dry for a couple of days it'll be close to good to soft.

"You can never be extremely confident, but there's every chance of the meeting taking place on ground no slower than good. It's still a long way out, but if it were to stay dry from Wednesday this week you'd be on good ground at some point, I can guarantee it."

The Epsom Downs will be closed off for access to the public for the Derby meeting for the second year in successionCredit: Edward Whitaker

Annual members, hospitality and paying spectators will make up the 4,000 crowd on both days, but Cooper confirmed public access to the downs in the middle of the track would be closed off again.

"We've got all the necessary approvals and there will be a secure fence line again. Hopefully, 2022 will be a different ballgame," Cooper added. "It was a very strange Derby day last year but we were pleased to stage it at its rightful home in difficult circumstances.

"It's great to get a level of crowd back. Getting ripples of applause coming back into the winner's enclosure will give it such a lift."

Cazoo Oaks

Paddy Power: 15-8 Santa Barbara, 4 Snowfall, 7 Teona, Zeyaadah, 8 Noon Star, 10 Dubai Fountain, 14 Saffron Beach, 20 bar

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