Dark Saffron, a 3-year-old son of Flameaway, made history by winning the Dubai Golden Shaheen at 65-1 odds, becoming the first 3-year-old to capture the race. Overcoming a wide draw, Dark Saffron led from the start and held off Nakatomi to win by a quarter of a length. The victory earned Dark Saffron a spot in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint this fall.
Despite being the favorite, Tuz finished third in the race, ending his five-race win streak. Straight No Chaser, who won the Riyadh Dirt Sprint in Saudi Arabia, finished eighth and was found to be mildly lame in the left foreleg after the race. Dark Saffron was purchased for $120,000 and trained in Dubai, where he returned to the dirt to win the Golden Shaheen.
Dark Saffron’s victory was a significant achievement for his sire Flameaway, who stands at Darby Dan Farm in Lexington. The Dubai Golden Shaheen is now part of the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series, with Dark Saffron earning a spot in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint. The colt’s success on the international stage sets up a potential rematch with Nakatomi in the fall.
