Dubai: Dark Saffron springs major upset in Golden Shaheen

Dark Saffron, a 3-year-old and the third-longest shot in a field of 11, led throughout Saturday’s Group 1 Golden Shaheen for sprinters at Meydan Racecourse in Dubai to win his first stakes against a top-class field.

Straight No Chaser, who won the Eclipse Award as the champion sprinter of 2024, could only finish eighth, beaten nine lengths as the even-money favorite in American pools.

Straight No Chaser raced from off the pace and was never a factor under jockey John Velazquez. The loss ended a three-race winning streak for Straight No Chaser that included the Breeders’ Cup Sprint at Del Mar last November, and the Group 2 Riyadh Dirt Sprint in Saudi Arabia in February, a $2 million race.

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In the Golden Shaheen, Dark Saffron paid $132.60 and was fortunate to win.

Ridden by Connor Beasley for Dubai-based trainer Ahmad bin Harmash, Dark Saffron led throughout the Golden Shaheen at six furlongs. Racing slightly off the rail in the stretch, Dark Saffron maintained his edge when the local multiple stakes winner Tuz failed to find sufficient room on the inside. Tuz was checked by jockey Tadgh O’Shea, losing his best chance for a win in the $2 million race.

Dark Saffron won by a neck over the Florida-based Nakatomi, trained by Wesley Ward. Tuz was beaten a length.

The Golden Shaheen was the first start for Nakatomi since a sixth-place finish in the BC Sprint last November. Nakatomi was a well-beaten third in the 2024 Golden Shaheen.

Dark Saffron started from the outside post, a draw that Beasley said forced his frontrunning tactics.

“He’s got plenty of natural speed, and it was probably a blessing being drawn out wide because I only had one option,” he said. “The way he’s doing it, it’s just fantastic.”

Dark Saffron is a Kentucky-bred colt by Flameaway who was purchased for $120,000 at the 2024 Ocala Breeders’ Sale of 2-year-olds in training last April.

A winner of 3 of 8 starts, Dark Saffron has raced only in the U.A.E. since last fall. He won an allowance race for 3-year-olds at six furlongs by seven lengths on March 14 in his final start before the Golden Shaheen.

With the win, Dark Saffron earned a fees-paid berth to the BC Sprint at Del Mar on Nov. 1.

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