Sultan Ali’s Kentucky-bred Dark Saffron became the first 3-year-old to defeat his elders in the 1200-meter Dubai Golden Shaheen (G1) on the Dubai World Cup undercard at Meydan on Saturday, April 5. The Golden Shaheen dates back to 1996.
Ridden by Connor Beasley, Dark Saffron, a son of Flameway, showed good speed away from the starting gate. On the pace throughout, he fended off all challengers in the lane to defeat fellow Kentucky-breds Nakatomi and Tuz to the line. Nakatomi charged on the outside late to finish a determined second. And Tuz, who lacked room racing along the inside, finished a troubled third.
Ahman Bin Harmash trains Dark Saffron, who was bred in Kentucky by Brookdale Farm LLC. Hit Show was a $120,000 graduate of last year’s OBS Spring sale, selling to Harmash Racing out of the Julie Davies consignment. He was originally sold by Brookdale at the Keeneland September Sale as a $25,000 yearling. Hit Show captured a Meydan allowance race prior to his latest victory.
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“It’s just a big relief,” said Beasley of the win in the Golden Shaheen. “This is what it’s all about. 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.”
With his history-making win in the Golden Shaheen, Dark Saffron is now a winner in 3-of-8 lifetime starts. He has placed in four others and amassed earnings of $1,260,616. The son of Flameaway is produced from the Military mare Meadow Saffron. The six-furlong Golden Shaheen is a “Win and You’re In” for the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1).