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Dark Saffron provided a double on Dubai World Cup night at Meydan for regular UAE jockey Connor Beasley and became the first three-year-old winner of the Group 1 Dubai Golden Shaheen in the process.
Starting at greater than 30/1, the locally trained Dark Saffron was tricky in the gates moments before the race start and Connor Beasley made the decision to jump the colt out quickly. Hitting the front in the early stages alongside fellow three-year-old American Stage, the positions remained the same with the Tadhg O'Shea-ridden Tuz attempting to make a bid on the inside rail. Beasley did not allow Tuz any running room in the closing stages and held on well for a narrow victory, handing the jockey a double on the card after his Kahayla Classic victory. Nakatomi made up ground late to steal second, with Tuz holding on for third.
Beasley said: "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. The way he's done it, it's just fantastic."
Earlier on the card, there was a thrilling finish in the Group 2 UAE Derby at Meydan, with Japan's Admire Daytona taking the race by a short head, denying British runner Heart Of Honor victory and trainer Jamie Osbourne a second win in the race.
Admire Daytona, ridden by Christophe Lemaire, went to the front in the early stages and continued to dictate the race throughout, but came under pressure on entering the home straight facing a strong challenge from Heart Of Honour and Don In The Mood. The trio battled all the way through the final furlong with Don In The Mood dropping away, and at the line a photo was required to confirm Admire Daytona the winner.
The win marked a third consecutive success for Japan and trainer Yukihiro Kato confirmed that Admire Daytona will head to the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs.
Winning jockey Lemaire said: "Honestly, I thought I'd won but it was very tight, so you never get too happy, too early. The Japanese horses come here with quite a bit of experience at home. For us, they arrive near their best this early in the season - not too much racing but also with plenty of experience. I think they like the Meydan dirt track too. For sure he can go to Kentucky, but it is such a difficult race to win. It is one of the most iconic races in the world and we have to go if we can."
Heart Of Honor's trainer Jamie Osborne won the race in 2014 with Toast Of New York. This year it was a family affair with his daughter Saffie, who in February became the first woman to win a race at Meydan, in the saddle.
The Lambourn-based trainer Jamie Osborne said: "He's put up a lifetime best and you always have to be pleased when that happens. But this is a tough one to swallow."
