The Dubai Golden Shaheen is a Group 1 flat horse race in the United Arab Emirates for three-year-old and above thoroughbreds run over a distance of 1,200 metres (approximately 6 furlongs) on the dirt course at Meydan Racecourse in Dubai in late March.
It was first run in December 1993 as the Nad Al Sheba Sprint, and its place in the calendar was moved in 1996 to be included in the Dubai World Cup Night held annually in March. The race took its present name in 2000 and it attained Group 1 status in 2002. Prior to 2010 it was run at Nad Al Sheba Racecourse. From 2012, Dubai Golden Shaheen joined Global Sprint Challenge and represents the third leg of the ten-race series.
The Dubai Golden Shaheen currently offers a purse of US$2 million.
Records Speed record: 1:08.10 - Big Jag (2000) (at Nad al Sheba) 1:09.01 - Zenden (2021) (at Meydan)
Most wins: 2 - Caller One (2001, 2002) 2 - Mind Your Biscuits (2017, 2018) 2 - Dark Saffron (2025, 2026)
Most wins by a jockey: 2 - Gary Stevens (1999, 2002) 2 - Alex Solis (2000, 2004) 2 - Joel Rosario (2017, 2018) 2 - Connor Beasley (2025, 2026)
Most wins by a trainer: 2 - Dhruba Selvaratnam (1998, 1999) 2 - James Chapman (2001, 2002) 2 - Chad Summers (2017, 2018) 2 - Bhupat Seemar (2022, 2024) 2 - Ahmad bin Harmash (2025, 2026)
Most wins by an owner: 2 - Carolyn Chapman & Theresa McArthur (2001, 2002) 2 - J Stables, Head Of Plains Partners LLC Et Al (2017, 2018) 2 - Sultan Ali (2025, 2026)
Casualties and incidents
2012 - Race horse trainer Bob Baffert suffered a heart attack the day before the race. He recovered in time to see his horse, The Factor finish sixth in the race. 2021 - Race winner Zenden stumbled and ran into the infield after crossing the finish line. He suffered a compound fracture of his left front leg and was euthanized on the track.
Winners Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer Owner Time 1996 Kassbaan 6 John Carroll Saeed bin Suroor Maktoum Al Maktoum 1:13.04 1997 Atraf 4 Jerry Bailey Kiaran McLaughlin Hamdan Al Maktoum 1:11.24 1998 Mudallel 5 Willie Supple Dhruba Selvaratnam Ziad Galadari 1:10.61 1999 Ramp and Rave 5 Gary Stevens Dhruba Selvaratnam Ahmed Al Maktoum 1:09.97 2000 Big Jag 7 Alex Solis Tim Pinfield Julius Zolezzi 1:08.10 2001 Caller One 4 Corey Nakatani James Chapman C. Chapman, T. McArthur 1:08.38 2002 Caller One 5 Gary Stevens James Chapman C. Chapman, T. McArthur 1:09.91 2003 State City 4 Michael Hills Paddy Rudkin S M R M 1:09.95 2004 Our New Recruit 5 Alex Solis John W. Sadler CRK Stable 1:10.30 2005 Saratoga County 4 Javier Castellano George Weaver Evelyn Pollard 1:11.21 2006 Proud Tower Too 4 David Cohen Sal Gonzalez Tricar Stables 1:09.86 2007 Kelly's Landing 6 Frankie Dettori Eddie Kenneally Summerplace Farm 1:10.34 2008 Benny the Bull 5 Edgar Prado Richard E. Dutrow, Jr. IEAH Stables et al. 1:08.702009Big City Man4Jose VerenzuelaJerry BartonPrince Sultan Mohammed Saud Al Kabeer1:08:93 2010Kinsale King5Garrett K. GomezCarl O'CallaghanSuper Horse Inc.1:10.85 2011Rocket Man6Felix CoetzeePatrick ShawAlfredo L. A. Crabbia1:11.282012Krypton Factor4Kieren FallonFawzi Abdulla NassFawzi Abdulla Nass1:10.792013Reynaldothewizard7Richard MullenSatish SeemarZabeel Racing1:12.462014Sterling City5João MoreiraJohn MooreLing Chiu Shing and Gary Ling Kay Wai1:10.882015Secret Circle6Victor EspinozaBob BaffertKarl Watson, Michael E. Pegram & Paul Weitman1:10.642016Muarrab7Paul HanaganMusabah Al MuhairiHamdan Al Maktoum1:10.592017Mind Your Biscuits4Joel RosarioChad SummersJ Stables, Head Of Plains Partners LLC Et Al 1:10.912018Mind Your Biscuits5Joel RosarioChad SummersJ Stables, Head Of Plains Partners LLC Et Al1:10.172019X Y Jet7Emisael JaramilloJorge NavarroRockingham Ranch & Gelfenstein Farm1:10.75 2020 Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.2021Zenden5Antonio FresuCarlos DavidLLP Performance Horse1:09.012022Switzerland8Tadhg O'SheaBhupat SeemarRRR Racing1:11.132023Sibelius5Ryan MooreJeremiah O'DwyerJun Park & Delia Nash1:10.692024Tuz7Tadhg O'SheaBhupat SeemarDakki Stable1:10.192025Dark Saffron3Connor BeasleyAhmad bin HarmashSultan Ali1:11.402026Dark Saffron4Connor BeasleyAhmad bin HarmashSultan Ali1:10.68
See also List of United Arab Emirates horse races
References
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