Authentic colt blitzes foes in Meydan, named TDN ‘Rising Star’

Salloom waved goodbye to the field at the top of the stretch on his way to a sensational seven-length maiden win Friday at Meydan Racecourse in the UAE, earning the 3-year-old Authentic colt the coveted TDN ‘Rising Star’ tag.

After competing in a pair of trial races of the last few months, Salloom was making his official debut in Friday’s one-mile main track race. Salloom broke well and was second to Music Lad in the first furlong, but soon after assumed command. In hand around the turn, he was shaken up approaching the homestretch and immediately responded, putting four lengths on the field. Under a hand ride the rest of the way, he was eased up nearing the wire to win geared down.

“He’s a horse I’ve had in high regard since I got back this season,” said 12-time UAE Champion Jockey Tadhg O’Shea. “He’s done there what he was showing me all the time at home. I wanted him to have a good smooth run and I was happy to take a lead and let Bernardo’s horse [Music Lad] do his thing. He’s very straightforward.”

Salloom was bred by Machmer Hall in Kentucky and most recently sold for $600,000 at the 2025 OBS 2-year-olds in training sale, where he was purchased by his owner Stables of King Abdullah bin A’Aziz Sons (KAS).

Plans on the horizon for Salloom could potentially include a start in the UAE Derby (G2) on March 28.

Salloom is the third Rising Star for Authentic, joining Verifire, who would go on to win last year’s Maxfield S. at Churchill Downs, and Rodriguez, winner of the Wood Memorial (G2) who hails from the same family as Salloom.