Dark Saffron ready to add flavor to Dubai Racing Carnival

Dark Saffron was one of the headline acts on Dubai World Cup day in April and the colt aims to pick up where he left off on Friday’s opening card of the Dubai Racing Carnival.

Trained by Ahmad Bin Harmash, the three-year-old beat an older field, including Group 1 winners Tuz, Straight No Chaser, and Nakatomi, in the G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen.

He now faces his own age group over the same 1200metre course in the Emirates Airline Conditions race, first on the card.

“The plan is different for Dark Saffron this year,” said Harmash. “We are planning to take him to Saudi for the [Riyadh Dirt Sprint] and then come back here for the Shaheen. Last year he had a lot of racing before the Shaheen, but now he has his rating [112], he will run only four or five times during the season.”

Dark Saffron’s four rivals include dual winner Rammayy for trainer Michael Costa, who also runs the filly Arryaaf.

Race five, the Emirates-sponsored 1600metre handicap, is the card’s official feature with a line-up of 13. They include dual Meydan winner Smart System, the current stable flagbearer for trainer Ali Al Badwawi.

“He’s doing great,” said the handler. “We will try him the first time at the mile and see how he does. He’s done well in his last two gallops, so hopefully he’ll reproduce that in the race.”

Top weight is carried by Mount Kosciusko for trainer Julio Olascoaga, who has booked Pat Dobbs to ride.

“Even though he won twice at Jebel Ali last season, I’ve always had the idea he performs better on Meydan’s dirt,” he said. “It looks on paper as if he has a hot pace in front of him, which will also suit.” Former Charlie Appleby trainee Kalidasa has joined Bhupat Seemar and will carry the silks of the Suited & Booted Syndicate, having been purchased for Dhs400,000 at the April Horses in Training Sale.

“Kalidasa is a big, elegant and strong gelding by Frankel out of [G3 winner] So Mi Dar, so he’s very well bred for turf racing,” said Managing Owner Paul Ebbs.

“However, it will be great to see him on the track in order to learn a little more and see how competitive he can be on the dirt.”

International flavour is brought to the meeting by Jamie Osborne’s Vino Sauro, who goes in race two, the 1400metre Arabian Adventures maiden for three-year-olds and up.

“He’s owned by Hicky [Parmar], Walter Moraes, Sayed [Hashish] and myself,” explained the British trainer. “He was third in a maiden at Southwell earlier in the year and we bought him privately.

“He’ll get further than this seven furlongs [1400metres] but I think he’s a nice horse.”

Olascoaga runs Knockmark, another newcomer to the UAE having been previously trained by Ger Lyons in Ireland, where he was second twice.

“He’s been very straightforward since he arrived in the UAE, not long ago, and he will enjoy the turf later in the season,” he said. “But the way he’s been working it’s worth a try on dirt.”