By Alan Carasso
DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES — In the history of the G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen dating back to 1996, no 3-year-old had ever succeeded in defeating their elders in the 1200-meter dash. Only two Northern Hemisphere-bred sophomores had so much as tried.
That all changed in the space of 71 seconds and some change under the Saturday night lights at Meydan, as Dark Saffron (Flameaway) busted away from the outside stall and made every yard a winning one, holding off Nakatomi (Firing Line) and a desperately unlucky defending champion Tuz (Oxbow) to cause a major upset. The Dubai Golden Shaheen was contested as a 'Win and You're In' qualifier for the GI Breeders' Cup Sprint on Nov. 1 at Del Mar.
Able to gain a run in the Golden Shaheen after winning a course-and-distance allowance Mar. 14, the $25,000 Keeneland September yearling turned $120,000 OBS April breezer hit the ground running and was able to make the lead, outsprinting the fleet defending champion and American Stage (Into Mischief). Eclipse Award winner Straight No Chaser (Speightster), a latest winner of the G2 Riyadh Dirt Sprint across the way in Saudi Arabia six weeks ago, was outfooted, appeared to resent the kickback and effectively lost all chance in the first 200 meters.
Dark Saffron continued to show the way into the straight hounded along by American Stage, as Tuz–under heavy urging from Tadhg O'Shea–was nevertheless boxing on bravely hard against the inside running rail. While he was able to sneak through underneath Don Frankie (Jpn) (Daiwa Major {Jpn}) en route to the victory 12 months ago, there was no such good fortune this time around for Tuz and O'Shea, who attempted to thread the needle, but was denied that access and was steadied. In the meantime, last year's third-placed Nakatomi was pinching ground from behind down the outside, but Dark Saffron would not lay down and went on to a narrow victory. Tuz was exceptionally brave in third, with Kurojishi Joe (Jpn) (Furioso {Jpn}) best of the Japanese in fourth.
Winning jockey Connor Beasley, who took the Dubai Kahayla Classic for the Purebred Arabians to open Saturday's action, admitted he was “a bit speechless,” before paying tribute to his willing partner.
“He's one of them, he's just kept improving and he was in up against good competition on the turf. He's got speed to burn and to do what he's just done is incredible.
“It's just a big relief. This is what it's all about. We've got a good bunch of horses and to get a big winner like this on a night like this, it's just fantastic.
“He's got plenty of natural speed and it was probably a blessing being drawn out wide because I only had one option. The way he's done it, it's just fantastic.”
Of the beaten favorite, trainer Bhupat Seemar said: “This is horse racing and these things happen. 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.
“I don't think he couldn't lie up, I think Tadhg went for him and then he eased up and didn't expect the horse to come on top of him. He's the best sprinter in the world, so I'm very proud.”
Straight No Chaser's rider John Velazquez said it was just not his mount's night.
“He jumped, I asked him but he didn't go,” he said. “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.”
Pedigree Notes:
Dark Saffron is the 12th worldwide stakes winner, fourth group/graded winner and second top-level scorer for his Darby Dan-based sire, but his first in the Northern Hemisphere.
He is one of six winners from six to the races for his dual stakes-winning and Grade II-placed dam, whose now juvenile colt by Beau Liam fetched $90,000 at last year's Fasig-Tipton October sale. The mare was empty for 2024 and is due to Global Campaign this term.
Saturday, Meydan, Dubai
DUBAI GOLDEN SHAHEEN (SPONSORED BY NAKHEEL)-G1, $2,000,000, Meydan, 4-5, 3yo/up, 1200m, 1:11.40, ft.
1–DARK SAFFRON, 123, g, 3, by Flameaway
1st Dam: Meadow Saffron (MSW & GSP-US, $164,347),
by Military
2nd Dam: Gigi Gear, by Golden Gear
3rd Dam: My Gidget, by Liloy (Fr)
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN. 1ST GROUP WIN. 1ST GROUP 1 WIN.
($25,000 Ylg '23 KEESEP; $120,000 2yo '24 OBSAPR). O-Sultan
Ali; B-Brookdale Farm LLC (KY); T-Ahmad bin Harmash;
J-Connor Beasley. $1,160,000. Lifetime Record: 8-3-2-2,
$1,260,616. *1/2 to Spring Hope (Spring At Last), SP-Pan. Click
for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Werk
Nick Rating: B. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Nakatomi, 131, g, 6, Firing Line–Applelicious, by Flatter.
(16,000gns RNA Ylg '23 TATSEP). O-Mrs Fitriani Hay & Qatar
Racing LLC; B-Arnold Zetcher LLC & Crestwood Farm (KY);
T-Wesley Ward. $400,000.
3–Tuz, 131, g, 8, Oxbow–Suede Shoe, by Pulpit. ($7,000 Ylg '18
KEESEP). O-Dakki Stable; B-Calumet Farm (KY); T-Bhupat
Seemar. $200,000.
Margins: NK, 3/4, HD.
Also Ran: Kurojishi Joe (Jpn), Colour Up (Ire), American Stage, Eastern World (Ire), Straight No Chaser, Super Chow, Remake (Jpn), Drew's Gold. Scratched: Jasper Krone, Royal Commando (Ire). Click for the ERA chart & video.
DARK SAFFRON pulls a huge upset at 65-1 in the $2 million Dubai Golden Shaheen (GI) @LanesEndFarms @BreedersCup Challenge Series race. The 3YO gelded son of Flameaway (@darbydanfarm) is trained by Ahmad bin Harmash and @connorbeasley9 was up.
Next 👉 https://t.co/k1nMRaVGNQ pic.twitter.com/mHOLtMZ5gX
— FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) April 5, 2025
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