Young sprinter Dark Saffron wires Golden Shaheen under confident Beasley

$2,000,000 Group 1 Dubai Golden Shaheen (Sponsored by Nakheel)

Mdmar – Dubai Racing Club

A masterful ride by Connor Beasley saw local three-year-old Dark Saffron cause a massive shock with his success in the Dubai Golden Shaheen. 

The presence of two three-year-olds in the race for the first time since 2006 was already a talking point pre-race. Only five three-year-olds had ever contested the Golden Shaheen before and only two of them were bred in the Northern Hemisphere: My Catch, 12th in 2014, and Dios Corrida, 11th in 2017.

Of the two, Japanese talent American Stage was considered the vastly superior chance, although neither were seen as likely to challenge defending champion Tuz or champion American sprinter Straight No Chaser.

It looked even less likely when Ahmad bin Harmash’s Dark Saffron played up in the outside gate of 11, moments before the stalls opened. But Beasley managed to straighten his head at the right time and he bounced out fast and mustered speed quickly. 

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The two three-year-olds led up early, and after the first furlong it was apparent that Straight No Chaser would not add Dubai success to his illustrious resume. Dan Blacker’s charge was uncomfortable amongst horses with plenty of kickback in his face and was in trouble early on.

The only horse able to stay in touch with the three-year-olds was Tuz, who landed in the box seat and appeared likely to capitalise once they punctured. However, he also came under riding approaching the 600m and his bid for back to back wins appeared forlorn.

Tuz, though, is all heart and tried to rally up the rail. This is where Beasley’s tactical masterpiece came to the fore as he shut the door on Tadhg O’Shea aboard Tuz on a number of occasions. 

Nakatomi charged late, Tuz made ground when it was all over but Dark Saffron, with a 3.5kg swing in the weights, was able to fend them off. He gave Beasley his second win of the night following First Classs’s Kahayla Classic success.

Beasley 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. 

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“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.”

Nakatomi (2nd), owner Dr Jim Hay said: “He ran a phenomenal race. Wesley has got him back to his best and next time we’ll win it. As he passed me I thought he was going to win but he came out off the rail a little bit and the winner’s a great horse, he stayed on really well. He’s going back to the States and he’ll spend the rest of the year there and head to the Breeders’ Cup. What we do with him is up to Wesley. It’s horse racing and it’s a privilege to be here.”

Tuz (3rd), 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. The winner had a very slow time, Tuz ran a second quicker last year, so if he’d have run a true race he’d have been five lengths in front. 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.”

Kurojishi Joe (4th), jockey Keita Tosaki said: “He is in good form. The pace of the sprint races here is faster than it is in Japan. We couldn’t take a front position but he ran in a good rhythm and showed his turn of foot.”

Colour Up (5th), jockey Pat Dobbs said: “He ran well. He didn’t quite stay six furlongs. I thought we were going to be third a furlong out. He is probably better drawn a bit out rather than on the inside.”

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American Stage (6th), jockey Oisin Murphy said: “Very happy with him. He showed great speed and for a three-year-old that was a good effort. I thought it was a fair race.”

Straight No Chaser (8th), jockey John Velazquez said: “He jumped, I asked him but he didn’t go. 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.”

Super Chow (9th), jockey Chantal Sutherland said: “He missed the break and when he did that, the two outside horses came in so he got pinched and there was nothing I could do. He can be quiet in the gate, I tried to keep him awake as I could without making him pre-jump. Just unfortunate.”

Remake (10th), jockey Frankie Dettori said: “Bit slow early doors. He’s getting older and I don’t think I’ve got the speed of these horses any more.”

Drew’s Gold (11th), jockey Silvestre de Sousa said: “He jumped so quick even the tack went back a little bit. He will be better over a longer trip and we might have a future with him.”

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The “Mdmar” website for horse and equestrian races is keen to cover and follow all competitions related to horses, from show jumping, Horseracing, speed and endurance races, and purebred Arabian horse beauty shows, which belong to the Arab Gulf countries at home and abroad in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and the State of Qatar, the State of Kuwait, the Sultanate of Oman, and the Kingdom of Bahrain.