Dark Saffron to light up Meydan

Dark Saffron to light up Meydan

Ed Marnane

Ahmad Bin Harmash’s stable star Dark Saffron made a bright start to the season when easily winning a minor event under regular rider Connor Beasley at Meydan last month.

The US-bred colt steps up in grade in Friday’s Al Garhoud Sprint (Listed), the highlight of competitive eight-race card at Meydan. Penalised 2.5kg for his shock victory in the Golden Shaheen (Group 1), in April, Dark Saffron is hard to oppose and can record his fifth win in nine appearances at Dubai’s premier track.

Shadwell and Musabbeh Al Mheiri combined to win four of the first six renewals of the Al Garhoud Sprint, the most recent with Ibn Malik in 2019. Rabaah carries their hopes on his Meydan debut.

Impressive winner on his local/dirt debut at Jebel Ali last month, he holds each-way claims from a yard in terrific form. The son of Dubawi is open to plenty of improvement and has the services of the talented Danny Tudhope

The 2023 winner, Colour Up, representing Doug Watson, is seeking his second victory in the Al Garhoud Sprint in three years and is looking to atone for his defeat to Tuz 12 months ago.

Now eight, he could be vulnerable off a lengthy layoff and makes little appeal as he looks to snap a lengthy losing run, going back to February last year.

Bhupat Seemar is two-handed with Morning and Mufasa, the choice of stable jockey Tadhg O’Shea. Rated 111, he was far from disgraced in the Godolphin Mile on his UAE debut in April, keeping on to finish a respectable sixth behind Raging Torrent. He won’t be inconvenienced stepping back to 1200m and if primed and ready after his eight-month break, he warrants consideration.

Union Security emerged an exciting juvenile when scoring on his racecourse debut at Meydan four weeks ago. Always travelling strongly, he had to overcome minor trouble in running before readily dashing clear of his six rivals in the closing stages to create a big impression for trainer Bin Harmash.

Union Security returns to action in the opening event, the 1200m conditions race, and is hard to see getting beaten under a 1kg penalty. Bin Harmash has a good strike-rate at Meydan with his two-year-olds.

Race 2, the 1400m maiden on dirt, has drawn a field of 13 juveniles and Godolphin’s Ruler Of Time is a rare runner on dirt for Charlie Appleby. By top US dirt sire Not This Time, he shaped nicely when second at Newbury on his racecourse debut in July before filling the same position at Kempton the following month.

Ruler Of Time, the mount of William Buick, has the benefit of a recent spin in a barrier trial on Meydan’s dirt track, finishing a respectable fourth in the eight-runner contest. Rated 89, he sets a decent standard and clearly is the horse to beat.

Jamie Osborne’s Vivo Sauro looks the answer in a competitive 1600m maiden, the final race. Saffie Osborne has jetted out from the UK for the ride and the son of Vino Rosso can open his account at the third time of asking.

He made an encouraging comeback behind Gray Boss on his UAE/dirt debut off a seven-month break. He left the impression he would be sharper for the run, while the step up to 1600m is a help.

US import Amjaad showed promise on his only start (on the all-weather) for Todd Pletcher at Gulfstream Park earlier in the year. The Shadwell-owned homebred colt is now under the care of Watson and is fitted with a first-time visor on his local debut. Being by Nyquist, a leading US dirt sire, the switch to dirt should not be a negative. Watson has his team in good form now after a quiet start.

Off the rest, Honest Moon is one to consider now connections have dropped him in grade. He can boast a smart rating (97), is proven under the conditions and hails from a yard that is enjoying a solid start to the new campaign.

Race 4, the 1600m handicap, sees three recent winners – Itsatenfromlen, Gray Boss and Norato – clash and preference is for the last-named. Trained by Julio Olascoaga, he caught the eye on his seasonal debut, defeating Military Artist and eight others over the same course and distance.

He made smooth progress off the hometurn and when asked by Silvestre De Sousa produced an electric turn of foot to score by 2.50 lengths. He is unexposed on dirt and can follow up under the champion jockey.

BEST BET

Race 1 No 1 Union Security

VALUE BET

Race 6 No 6 Rabaah

BEST SWINGER

Race 5: 8 African Candy and 9 Magic Petition

JACKPOT

(Races 4-7)

R96

Leg 1: 1, 6, 7, 10

Leg 2: 3, 8, 9

Leg 3: 1, 6

Leg 4: 5, 8, 13, 14