(MENAFN- Khaleej Times)

The Dubai Racing Carnival turns up the heat on Friday, December 5, with a card built around one of the season's best high-stakes contests, the Listed Al Garhoud Sprint, a six-furlong dash where there is no margin for error.

As a key stepping stone toward the $2 million Dubai Golden Shaheen (G1) on Dubai World Cup Day, this is the kind of race where reputations and hopes can change in seconds.

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Dark Saffron, last season's shock Golden Shaheen hero, returns as the headline act following a flawless comeback win in the Emirates Airline Handicap under Connor Beasley, four weeks ago.

KT Selections

• Race 1: 1. Union Security, 2. Six Spee

• Race 2: 1. Ruler Of Time, 2. Ishtiah

• Race 3: 1. Don Pacifico, 2. Road Bloc

• Race 4: 1. Grey Boss, 2. Norato

• Race 5: 1. Destructive, 2. Telemark

• Race 6: 1. Dark Saffron, 2. Mufasa

• Race 7: 1. Arabian Tale, 2. Al Mukhtar

• Race 8: 1. Harvest Moon, 2. Amjaad

• Day's Best: Dark Saffron

“He's doing well, he's been training very well,” said bin Harmash of Dark Saffron.“The only question mark is carrying the top weight [59.5kg] against older horses, as he is only three years old.

“But Dark Saffron is Dark Saffron. I think he will run a good race."

Among his most dangerous rivals is Mufasa, a three-time US Grade 3 winner with high cruising speed. His trainer Bhupat Seemar believes the drop to six furlongs could unlock his best Dubai form after a respectable Godolphin Mile debut in March.

Also in the field is last year's Al Garhoud Sprint winner Colour Up, who is still thriving at the age of seven. Seven-time UAE Champion trainer Doug Watson's charge is drawn low, which may force a tactical change, but his record of showing up on big nights keeps him firmly in the mix.

“We're very excited to start him over six furlongs,” said Abdulla Muammer, Racing Manager to owner RRR Racing.“He's shown a lot of speed in his work, and we feel this is the right spot for him.”

Reigning champion trainer Musabbeh Al Maheiri saddles Rabbah, who scorched home a facile winner of the JARC Sprint Series at Jebel Ali last month.

“We're happy with where the horse is, and he's been training the right way,” Al Mheiri said.“This is a tougher test, no question, but these are the races he has to step up in if he's going to move on to the bigger sprint targets later in the Carnival.”

Why this race matters

The Al Garhoud Sprint consistently shapes the winter sprinting hierarchy in Dubai. The winners and placed horses here typically funnel straight into the Mahab Al Shimaal (G3) and eventually the Golden Shaheen, making this the first real stress-test of the Carnival's speedballs. With only seven runners, quality outweighs quantity, but it's the kind of selective field that often produces a clear Shaheen contender.

Pace will be a defining factor, with several committed front-runners likely to turn the race into a flat-out drag racing contest from the moment the gates open. That puts a premium on early tactical decisions by the jockeys, especially for those trying to take a lead rather than fight for it.

A major storyline surrounds Dark Saffron, who faces a genuine test under top weight. The question is whether a three-year-old can successfully concede weight to seasoned older sprinters at this level. Mufasa is another focal point, dropping back to six furlongs, while for Colour Up, stall one may force him closer to the speed than he prefers, potentially taking him out of his natural stalking rhythm.

Finally, early-season Meydan dirt racing often rewards horses that can break sharply and maintain a forward position, which may give a slight advantage to the natural pace-setters in this field.

So, the bottom line is expect a high-octane sprint where, if you blink at the wrong moment, you may miss the moments that shape Dubai's sprint division for the rest of the season.

The feature undercard event is the 1400-metre Ford Handicap, the fifth race on the programme, and it brings international interest through Gorak, the lone overseas runner.

The gelding travels in from Britain with trainer Charlie Fellowes, who makes his first Carnival appearance since 2022, while the 1600-metre Ford Mach-E Handicap shapes as an open affair with recent winners Norato and Grey Boss joined by Jebel Ali victor Itsatenfromlen, whom Doug Watson has been aiming at this race.

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