Dark Saffron Defends Dubai Golden Shaheen Crown
Dark Saffron And Bentornato In Sprint Showdown
The defending champion emerges triumphant once more, as Dark Saffron, trained by Ahmad bin Harmash, retains the US$2,000,000 Gr.1 Dubai Golden Shaheen over 1,200 metres on dirt at Meydan Racecourse, holding off the sustained challenge of Gr.1 Breeders' Cup Sprint champion Bentornato under a masterful front-running ride from Connor Beasley to secure successive victories in one of the world's most prestigious dirt sprints.
Breaking alertly from draw 11, Beasley's mount seizes control in the opening stages, asserting to the front and cutting out the pace along the inside fence in the manner that defined his shock success 12 months earlier.
The Flameaway 4YO gelding, who had first set the Golden Shaheen record books alight when becoming the first 3YO in the history of the race to defeat his elders in 2025, had navigated a turbulent preparation for this renewal, registering three consecutive defeats over this exact course and distance before a switch to the turf in January preceded a welcome return to form on his penultimate outing.Defeated by a combined 50 lengths after taking his seasonal debut in November, Dark Saffron had perked back up with a runner-up effort to El Nasseeb in the Gr.3 Mahab Al Shimaal on Super Saturday before returning to his very best on Dubai World Cup night.
None of that difficult mid-season context is visible here, the gelding moving powerfully to the front and dominating proceedings from flag to flag on the most significant evening of the Dubai racing calendar.
From draw two, Jose Ortiz produces a smooth and unhurried passage aboard Bentornato, the 5YO son of Valiant Minister carrying the field's highest rating of 119 and arriving on the strength of his commanding two-and-a-quarter-length Gr.1 Breeders' Cup Sprint success at Del Mar. The American raider, who had won seven of his 11 career starts and had never finished outside the first three in any race, moves into contention approaching the final furlong and mounts a determined challenge through the centre of the track. Dark Saffron, however, is not for passing, digging deep under resolute driving from Beasley to hold off the challenge of D'Angelo's charge and cross the line in front to a roar from the assembled Meydan crowd.
Cats By Five Completes Podium In Style
A striking performance from the remainder of the field comes from Cats by Five, the 5YO Doug Watson-trained gelding by Audible who, bearing the widest draw in the field from stall 12 and carrying a rating of 105, produces a powerful late challenge under Daniel Tudhope to snatch third place past several considerably more fancied opponents. A winner of two handicap races through the current season, Watson's runner arrives in this Gr.1 company with modest expectations, yet his sustained gallop through the stretch rewards his trainer with a podium finish and serves as a reminder that sprint racing at the highest level rarely takes its cue from the ratings page.
Among those unable to assert are Tuz, the 9YO Bhupat Seemar-trained gelding whose devastating six-and-a-half-length triumph in the 2024 Golden Shaheen stands as one of the most dominant displays in the history of the race. Drawn eight and ridden by Tadhg O'Shea, the veteran campaigner proves unable to recapture the explosive front-running brilliance that has characterised his finest seasons at Meydan, his challenge flattening out in the stretch without ever threatening the principals.
El Nasseeb, trained by Musabbeh Al Mheiri and arriving on the back of four consecutive wins over this course and distance, also fails to produce the acceleration that had made him such a compelling contender in the pre-race discussion. Nakatomi, the Wesley Ward-trained 7YO who has shown a consistent affinity for this contest across multiple campaigns, having finished second in 2025 and third in 2024, again shows ability without the decisiveness required to force his way into the frame.
Lovesick Blues, Librado Barocio's Gr.1 Bing Crosby winner from California, and Japanese raider American Stage from the Yoshito Yahagi stable complete a group of international challengers who give their best without threatening the podium.
Bin Harmash Celebrates Successive Golden Shaheen Triumph
For bin Harmash, the result represents a training achievement of considerable distinction, his judgement in managing Dark Saffron through the adversity of a difficult mid-season campaign and bringing him back to his best in time for the main target vindicated in the clearest possible terms. Having spoken with characteristic calm ahead of the contest, Beasley noted that "it was a step in the right direction his last run so hopefully he comes good at this time of the year," a modest pre-race assessment that scarcely hinted at the authority with which the partnership would reproduce the previous season's landmark victory.
After the race, Beasley elaborated on the champion's interrupted season: "Obviously he won this race last year and he come back and run really well, it was a bit of a workout first time he ran this season. Then he had a bit of an incident in the stalls and banged his head and sort of lost his way. I think he lost a bit of confidence for his next three or four runs, but his last run we felt he was coming back to himself."
Trainer Jose D'Angelo was philosophical in defeat, pointing to the draw as a decisive factor in Bentornato's defeat: "I think the post position cost us the race. It's the first time that we've seen him running in behind the speed. We have plenty of races and of course, the ultimate goal is the Breeders' Cup again. We'll give him time as always and be ready for that."
The US$1,160,000 winner's prize adds to a growing career account for the Flameaway gelding, who now holds four wins from ten career starts on dirt, all at Meydan.Dark Saffron joins the likes of Caller One and Mind Your Biscuits as a back-to-back winner of the Dubai Golden Shaheen, a race which also serves as a Win and You're In qualifier for this year's Breeders' Cup Sprint at Keeneland.
A horse that had once been described as an unlikely Golden Shaheen hero when defying his elders at 3YO has now made the race his own, and with bin Harmash's patient and precise direction once again delivering the prize that matters most, Dark Saffron departs Dubai World Cup night with two Group One victories at this venue and a reputation that can only continue to grow.
Dubai Golden Shaheen 2026
1st. Dark Saffron (T: Ahmad bin Harmash / J: Connor Beasley)
2nd. Bentornato (T: Jose D'Angelo / J: Jose Ortiz)
3rd. Cats by Five (T: Doug Watson / J: Daniel Tudhope)