Dark Saffron repeats in Dubai Golden Shaheen

One year after springing a $132.60 upset in the $2 million Dubai Golden Shaheen (G1), Dark Saffron repeated the feat for a $48.80 payout at Meydan on Saturday. Both times, Sultan Ali’s runner floored the reigning Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1) champion, although hot favorite Bentornato ran far better as the runner-up than last year’s disappointing Straight No Chaser.

The trainer/jockey tandem of Ahmad bin Harmash and Connor Beasley completed a rapid-fire sweep of the sprint stakes on World Cup night. One race earlier, they combined with Native Approach, a $65.40 winner, in the Al Quoz Sprint (G1). 

Dark Saffron’s 2025 shocker appeared even more inscrutable in hindsight. Enduring a five-race losing streak this Dubai Carnival, he looked unlikely to join Caller One (2001-02) and Mind Your Biscuits (2017-18) as a two-time Golden Shaheen hero.

But Dark Saffron was cycling back into form with a second in Super Saturday’s Mahab al Shimaal (G3), and he peaked on the big stage. Getting a flyer from post 12, the Flameaway gelding attended the venerable Tuz before pouncing on the turn for home.

Bentornato, stuck behind Tuz on the inside, had to angle out to go after Dark Saffron. By that point, the winner had driven clear. Bentornato chased valiantly, but he could not close the gap.

Dark Saffron held sway by 1 3/4 lengths, finishing about six furlongs in 1:10.68 to clinch his own fees-paid berth in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint at Keeneland.

Bentornato was best of the rest, and trainer Jose D’Angelo was playing the counterfactual game.

“I think the post position cost us the race,” D’Angelo said of post 2. “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.”

Cats by Five rallied for third, another 2 3/4 lengths adrift. Tuz, the 2024 Golden Shaheen winner and third-placer last year, tired to fourth. Fellow veteran Nakatomi was a non-threatening fifth, followed by Mufasa, Colour Up, Lovesick Blues, Khanjar, El Nasseeb, Midland Money, and American Stage. Drew’s Gold was scratched.

Dark Saffron improved his record to 15-5-3-2. Beasley explained that the four-year-old had his excuses throughout the season. 

“Obviously he won this race last year, and he come back and run really well,” Beasley said of his Nov. 7 reappearance. “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.”

Bred by Brookdale Farm in Kentucky, Dark Saffron brought $25,000 as a Keeneland September yearling but appreciated to $120,000 as an OBS April juvenile. The dark bay was produced by the Grade 2-placed multiple stakes scorer Meadow Saffron, a Military mare from the family of Grade 1-winning millionaire Stronghold.