In one of the feature contests on the card, on 28 March, Race 6, the Group 1 Dubai Golden Shaheen Sponsored by Nakheel, was contested over 1200 metres on dirt at Meydan Racecourse. The race at 18:55 featured an international field of sprinters aged three years and above and was conducted under the auspices of the Dubai Racing Club, with a total prize purse of USD 2,000,000.
Dark Saffron (USA), trained by Ahmad bin Harmash and ridden by Connor Beasley, delivered a decisive performance to secure victory. Breaking well and settling into a prominent early position, the gelding asserted control in the closing stages and crossed the line in a time of 1:10.68, earning the winner’s share of USD 1,160,000 while carrying 57 kilograms.
Bentornato (USA), under Jose Ortiz for trainer Jose D’Angelo, finished second after making steady progress through the latter half of the race. He clocked 1:11.01, staying on well but unable to challenge the winner’s finishing speed. Cats By Five (USA), trained by Doug Watson and partnered by Daniel Tudhope, completed the top three, maintaining a consistent gallop throughout and finishing in 1:11.52 to secure third place.
The Dubai Golden Shaheen, a premier sprint contest on dirt, once again highlighted the depth of international talent. Dark Saffron’s controlled early pace and strong finishing effort proved decisive, particularly against a field that included several established performers over the distance. Bentornato’s late run suggested further promise, while Cats By Five showed resilience to retain a placing in a steadily run contest where the leading trio drew clear in the final stages.
The programme at Meydan continued with Race 7, the Dubai Turf Sponsored by DP World, which was scheduled for 19:35, forming one of the key middle-distance highlights of the evening. The race was expected to attract a high-quality international field, further underlining the global stature of the meeting. With momentum building through the earlier races, attention shifted towards the upcoming contest as connections prepared their runners for another competitive Group-level event on the card, maintaining the evening’s strong standard of racing.
For more stories, results, and updates from the world of horse racing, stay tuned to RaceBuzz.