A front-running Dark Saffron defeated the world's best dirt sprinters with a stunning 65-1 upset in the $2 million Dubai Golden Shaheen (G1) at Meydan Racecourse April 5.
The son of Flameaway set the record books afire with his triumph over fellow Kentucky-bred Nakatomi, becoming the first 3-year-old in Golden Shaheen history to capture the race.
Breaking from the 11 post instead of his slated 13 due to the scratches of Jasper Krone and Royal Commando, Dark Saffron still needed to overcome the widest draw in the field in the 1,200-meter (about six-furlong) dash. That he did.
Sultan Ali's gutsy colt handed his elders not just a lesson in speed, but also in fortitude. Darting like a bullet under jockey Connor Beasley, the colt, formerly a turf runner, seized command within the first 100 yards. As the charge turned for home, Dark Saffron's rivals arose from the shadows, with last year's Golden Shaheen winner Tuz preparing to deliver a repeat performance in a bid up the rail.
Beasley knew better, closing the gap along the fence and denying Tuz his second Shaheen title. With race favorite and 2024 U.S. champion male sprinter Straight No Chaser scrambling, it was up to the Wesley Ward-trained Nakatomi, making his second appearance in the Shaheen, to catch the upstart youngster.
Not to be denied on his home track, Dark Saffron hung tough, edging Nakatomi by a quarter of a length under the wire. Dark Saffron, returning a massive pay out of $132.60 for a $2 win bet, stopped the timer in 1:11.40.
"He's got plenty of natural speed and it was probably a blessing being drawn out wide because I only had one option," Beasley said. "The way he's done it, it's just fantastic."
Tuz , a Kentucky-bred son of Oxbow , would settle for third, his five-race win streak coming to an unlucky end.
"This is horse racing and these things happen," trainer Bhupat Seemar said. "Tactically they got the race on us, so it is how it is. They went fast and maybe we could have gone a bit faster, but the door wasn't open.
"We'll come back next year and see if we can do this again. He was doing everything right, it's just unfortunate circumstances. He's had a long season and he deserves a break. He doesn't owe us anything."
Straight No Chaser, an impressive last-out winner of the rich Riyadh Dirt Sprint (G2) Feb. 22 in Saudi Arabia, finished eighth.
"He jumped, I asked him but he didn't go," jockey John Velazquez said of his mount, who was clearly uncomfortable with the Meydan kickback. "That's not his style, his style is 'come and get him.' At least if he lays close he's fine, but he just didn't even do that."
According to a stewards' report posted on the Emirates Racing Authority website, a postrace veterinary exam of Straight No Chaser revealed the horse to be "mildly lame in the left foreleg."
Bred in Kentucky by Brookdale Farm, Dark Saffron's trainer Ahmad bin Harmash purchased the colt for $120,000 out of the Julie Davies consignment at the 2024 Ocala Breeders' Sales Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training. Sent to Dubai to begin his racing career, Dark Saffron broke his maiden second time out on the dirt in November before making three of his next five starts on the turf. Ahead of his Golden Shaheen glory, the colt made a successful return to the dirt, romping wire to wire by seven lengths in a 1,200-meter conditional allowance contest March 14.
Dark Saffron became the second grade/group 1 winner for third-crop sire Flameaway. The son of Scat Daddy, a multiple graded stakes winner on the dirt and turf, stands the 2025 breeding season at Darby Dan Farm near Lexington for a fee of $15,000. The 3-year-old is one of six winners from six starters produced by the stakes-winning Military mare Meadow Saffron.
The Dubai Golden Shaheen is one of the new international events to join the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series: Win and You're In this year. With his Golden Shaheen triumph, Dark Saffron earned an all-expenses-paid berth to the Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) this fall at Del Mar, where he could likely renew his rivalry with Nakatomi, who has competed in the last two Sprint editions.
Video
