How Dark Saffron lit up Meydan for stunning home delight
KUUMAR SHYAM (DUBAI)The 29th Dubai World Cup had a surprise main winner – Hit Show – while also dishing out an equally stunning local delight when Dark Saffron dazzled in the spotlight at the Meydan Racecourse on Saturday. Not only did the gelding son of Meadow Saffron take home the winner's purse of Dh1.16 million for owner Sultan Ali, he became the first three-year-old to defeat a race for usually horses at least twice his age. Trained by Ahmed bin Harmash, the Emirati horse defied expectations in winning the race in 1:11:41 minutes, ahead of Nakatomi and the defending champion Tuz. The cream of the horse racing world has descended in the UAE for the showpiece event, carrying a total prize money of $30.5m, with Hit Show proving a surprise winner for the main prize among nine races on the card. While a couple of horses only justified their favourite tags, one of the most notable and pleasant good news came from the hosts' very own fraternity in the sixth race when Connor Beasley kept him in the front for most of the 1,200-metre sprint. Tuz got stuck behind the eventual winner and with Nakatomi on the right even as the most fancied Straight No Chaser never got started when the gates opened.The presence of two three-year-olds in the race for the first time since 2006 was already a talking point pre-race when Dark Saffron and American Stage were entered. Only five three-year-olds had ever contested in the history of the race.With competitors like Tuz and Straight No Chaser, it looked even less likely when Dark Saffron drew stall 11 after couple of non-runners. But Beasley managed to straighten his head at the right time and mustered speed quickly.The only horse able to stay in touch with the three-year-olds was Tuz, who landed in the box seat and appeared likely to capitalise once they punctured. However, he also came under riding approaching the 600m and his bid for back to back wins appeared forlorn.Tuz, though, is all heart and tried to rally up the rail. This is where Beasley's tactical masterpiece came to the fore as he shut the door on Tadhg O'Shea aboard Tuz on a number of occasions. Nakatomi charged late, Tuz made ground when it was all over but Dark Saffron, with a 3.5kg swing in the weights, was able to fend them off. He gave Beasley his second win of the night following First Classs's Kahayla Classic success. The Dubai Golden Shaheen was contested as a 'Win and You're In' qualifier for the GI Breeders' Cup Sprint on Nov. 1 at Del Mar.Beasley admitted he was "a bit speechless" about his willing partner. "He's one of them, he's just kept improving and he was in up against good competition on the turf. He's got speed to burn and to do what he's just done is incredible. "It's just a big relief. This is what it's all about. We've got a good bunch of horses and to get a big winner like this on a night like this, it's just fantastic. He's got plenty of natural speed and it was probably a blessing being drawn out wide because I only had one option."Bhupat Seemar, the handler for Tuz, said: "This is horse racing and these things happen. Tactically they got the race on us, so it is how it is. They went fast and maybe we could have gone a bit faster, but the door wasn't open. I don't think he couldn't lie up."
Straight No Chaser finished a miserable eighth and jockey John Velazquez said: "He jumped, I asked him but he didn't go. That's not his style, his style is 'come and get him'. At least if he lays close he's fine, but he just didn't even do that."
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