The US sprinters have loved the surface. The 2023 Dubai Golden Shaheen (1200m) at Meydan on Saturday brings that again.
2023 DUBAI GOLDEN SHAHEEN - RACE HISTORY AND BACKGROUND
The Dubai Golden Shaheen is a Group 1 sprint race for three year olds and up conducted by the Dubai Racing Club at Meydan.
The Dubai Golden Shaheen was first run in 1996 won by Kassbaan.
The Dubai Golden Shaheen was initially run as the Nad Al Sheba Sprint in December when racing at that track but the move to Meydan changed its name.
It became a Group 1 in 2002.
It is run on Dubai World Cup night as the feature dirt sprint on the program.
Mind Your Biscuits joined Caller One as the multiple winners of the Dubai Golden Shaheen.
Trainers to win multiple Dubai Golden Shaheens are Dhruba Selvaratnam, James Chapman and Chad Summers with two each.
Joel Rosario, Gary Stevens and Alex Solis have two wins each as a jockey.
Singapore's best horse was Rocket Man and he'd been beaten in the big international races several times. He was even just beaten the year before in this and made up for it in 2011.
Racing outside the speed he was chased along before the turn but never gave up and wound over the top of the leader.
Twelve months on Krypton Factor had had a great Dubai season and won strongly. He sat just off the pace as Rocket Man tried to win the race again. Once clear he just went on by.
American sprinters have run well here on occasions as it is a dirt race. For example Mind Your Biscuits came from the widest gate and a long way back to run away in 2017. He backed it up a year on. Another USA sprinter X Y Jet won in 2019 after placing twice before. Zenden added to that.
The Dubai Golden Shaheen was worth US$2million in 2023.
It was cancelled due to the Coronavirus pandemic in 2020.
Notable winners include X Y Jet (2019), Mind Your Biscuits (2017/2018), Muarrab (2016), Secret Circle (2015), Sterling City (2014), Reynaldothewizard (2013), Krypton Factor (2012), Rocket Man (2011), Kinsale King (2010), Benny The Bull (2008), Saratoga County (2005), State City (2003), Caller One (2001/2002), Big Jag (2000) and Atraf (1997).
The 2022 Dubai Golden Shaheen was won by Switzerland from Red Le Zele and Dr Schivel.
