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Blink, and you’ll miss it: UAE and American speed kings face off in $2m Golden Shaheen thriller
A high-octane six-furlong battle featuring Breeders’ Cup hero Bentornato, local champions Tuz and Dark Saffron, and a deep cast of elite sprinters on Dubai World Cup night
- PUBLISHED: Fri 20 Mar 2026, 6:54 PM
A blur of speed and power awaits at Meydan on Saturday when the $2 million Group 1 Dubai Golden Shaheen delivers its trademark six-furlong spectacle on Dubai World Cup night.
One of only three original races on the card since its inception in 1996, the Golden Shaheen has long stood as a battleground between formidable American sprinters and the UAE’s finest dirt specialists, and this year’s renewal promises more of the same.
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Seven UAE-based runners line up to defend home honours, including the winners of the last two editions, Tuz (2024) and Dark Saffron (2025), both proven performers over the Meydan dirt. The race also features several familiar names from the Group 3 Mahab Al Shimaal, widely regarded as the key local trial, underlining the strength and depth of the domestic challenge.
History, however, leans heavily in favour of the American raiders. Since its introduction, the Golden Shaheen has been dominated by US-based speedsters, who have claimed the prize a total of 15 times, most recently with Sibelius in 2023. That legacy is once again carried by Breeders’ Cup Sprint hero Bentornato, who arrives in Dubai as one of the headline contenders.
Trainer Jose D’Angelo has left nothing to chance in his bid for international glory, personally travelling from South Florida to Dubai to oversee his stable star’s preparation.
“The horse is doing great there,” he told the Paulik Report. “Everything has been good so far. I’m very confident with him.”
Bentornato’s recent work at Palm Meadows has been sharp, including a bullet four-furlong breeze from the gate, and his rise from a promising Gulfstream Park runner to a global sprint force has been nothing short of remarkable.
“I owe a lot to that horse because he put me on the map,” D’Angelo added. “Everything we are living now came from him.”
Another American challenger, Lovesick Blues, presents a distinct yet equally compelling profile. Trained by Librado Barocio, the sprinter announced himself on the big stage with a shock victory in the Bing Crosby Stakes at Del Mar and has since held his own in elite company.
“For me, it’s a blessing from God above and a dream come true,” said Barocio. “He has opened the doors for me to see the world. I’m very fortunate to be in this position.”
Leading the home defence is Musabbeh Al Mheiri’s progressive El Nasseeb, a model of consistency who has emerged as one of the UAE’s top sprinting prospects this season. Since landing a Listed race early in the campaign, he has gone from strength to strength, capturing both the Group 3 Dubawi Stakes and the Group 1 Mahab Al Shimaal in emphatic fashion.
“We have a lot of faith in him,” Al Mheiri said. “He has been ultra consistent all season and has really improved with each run. He’s been a revelation for us and deserves his chance at this level. It’s a tough race, but you have got to be hopeful with a horse like El Naseeb.”
Champion trainer Bhupat Seemar, meanwhile, bids for a third Golden Shaheen success in five years and is well represented by former champion Tuz, whose durability and consistency have made him one of the most respected sprinters in the region, and Al Shindagah’s Sprint winner, Drew’s Gold.
Defending champion Dark Saffron, who has had an up-and-down campaign this season, adds further firepower to a powerful UAE contingent.
With proven American speed, seasoned local stars and rising talent all converging, the 2026 Dubai Golden Shaheen shapes as another electrifying contest. In a race where fractions are fierce and margins razor-thin, there is little room for error, and no time to blink.
Race 6: Dubai Golden Shaheen (Group 1)
Post Time: 7:00pm Purse: $2,000,000 Distance: 1,200m (Dirt)
Likely Runners:
• Bentornato (USA) USA Trainer: Jose D’Angelo
• Tuz (USA) UAE Trainer: Bhupat Seemar
• Lovesick Blues (USA) USA Trainer: Librado Barocio
• Drew’s Gold (USA) UAE Trainer: Bhupat Seemar
• El Nasseeb (GB) UAE Trainer: Musabbeh Al Mheiri
• Midland Money (USA) UAE Trainer: Michael Costa
• Dark Saffron (USA) UAE Trainer: Ahmad bin Harmash
• Muqtahem (IRE) KSA Trainer: Abdullah AlSidrani
• Nakatomi (USA) USA Trainer: Wesley Ward
• American Stage (USA) Japan Trainer: Yoshito Yahagi
• Mufasa (CHI) UAE Trainer: Bhupat Seemar•
• Colour Up (IRE) UAE Trainer Doug Watson