By Alan Carasso
When the list of probables for the $2-million G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen came out a week ago, it was hardly surprising to see Qatar Racng and Mrs. Fitri Hay's Nakatomi (Firing Line) among the five American-based horses bound for Meydan Racecourse. After all, the Emirates have become a regular late-winter/early-spring destination for the chestnut gelding, as he makes his third straight appearance in the 1200-meter dash.
The way connections see it, the racing Gods owe them one. Off to a slow start and awkward in the early stages in 2024, he raced far back and was bothered when coming with a run passing midstretch, but nevertheless was just beaten for second.
Never on the track and no better than four wide the trip 12 months ago, Nakatomi delivered a wide challenge into the Meydan straight, but kept on determinedly and fell just short of the re-opposing Dark Saffron (Flameaway), with 2024 hero Tuz (Oxbow) back in third, albeit very unlucky.
So, it must be his turn, right?
“Well, I mean, we hope so,” said Fergus Galvin, American racing manager for Sheikh Fahad's Qatar Racing. “I mean, I know he's in terrific form there. Every time I see him, [trainer] Wesley [Ward] keeps us updated with videos of his training and even on social media. Every time I see him, he's bucking and squealing after work or training. So he's obviously enjoying himself out there.”
Third to Elite Power (Curlin) in the first of three straight appearances in the GI Breeders' Cup Sprint in 2023, Nakatomi–an $18,000 Keeneland November weanling who was acquired by his current connections for $205,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Horses of Racing Age Sale in 2023–was also third to champion Book'em Danno (Bucchero) in a Grade I-quality renewal of the GII A. G. Vanderbilt Stakes at Saratoga last August before punching his ticket to Del Mar with a last-lunge success in the GII Phoenix Stakes at Keeneland Oct. 3. It wasn't the cleanest of passages when ninth to likely Golden Shaheen favorite Bentornato (Valiant Minister) in the Sprint, and he has since been managed with another overseas raid in mind.
“He's had the same sort of routine for the last, pretty much the last three years,” Galvin said. “So he's come back here to Hunter Valley after each Breeders' Cup. He spends a month or five weeks out in the paddock and then Wesley will take him down to Florida at the end of December or so and get him ready for Dubai then after that. So yeah, that's been his routine and it's worked very well and hopefully one better this year.”
Galvin is part-owner and managing partner of Hunter Valley Farm in Versailles, Kentucky.
Nakatomi turned in his final piece of fast work over the Meydan dirt track on Mar. 22 to the apparent satisfaction of all.
“Wesley sent me a video of it and he said he was very happy with it and even happier with him afterwards,” Galvin said. “Like I say, he was on the end of a lead and he was bucking and jumping after the work.
“And Wesley's done a terrific job with this horse. He's a 7-year-old now. He's taking good care of him and picks his spots and he's had a great career and hopefully we can add to it on Saturday.”
All roads lead back to Lexington and this year's Breeders' Cup Sprint at Keeneland and it all gets started just after sunset on Saturday in what has become something of a second home for Nakatomi.
“Listen, obviously with his age, we mind him and kind of go one race at a time with him, but if everything is going well, that will be the plan,” said Galvin. “So fingers crossed. My daughter has an affinity for him, so she always looks forward to when he comes back to the farm.”
Maybe the next time he shows up, he'll have a richly deserved Golden Shaheen trophy with him.
NAKATOMI, birds' eye view #DWC26 pic.twitter.com/jSPsiddeVP
— Dubai Racing Club (@RacingDubai) March 22, 2026
“' .”
Rider @Gav_Ashton with the lowdown on NAKATOMI, who aims to make it third time lucky in the G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen on Saturday.#DWC26 pic.twitter.com/nrhRptZxwO
— Dubai Racing Club (@RacingDubai) March 24, 2026
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