Frankel's Sallaal lands his first Group win

Roger Varian’s progressive four-year-old Frankel gelding Sallaal continued his rise up the ranks in taking style when landing a maiden Group success in the Gr.3 Rose of Lancaster Stakes at Haydock on Saturday for owner Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum.

Taken from the Euopean Bloodstock News, 9th August 2026:

A disappointing field of just four runners lined up for this prestigious event which has a decorated roll of honour in recent years, having been won by the likes of Al Maktoum’s multiple Gr.1 winner Addeybb and the Gr.1 Champion Stakes hero Anmaat, who was victorious in this race on two occasions.

Ridden by Ray Dawson, the keen-going son of Frankel was soon settled in second behind Simon and Ed Crisford’s Sea Scout, with Dawson keen to find a bit of cover despite the small field. They raced in single file followed by Nahraan and Covergent, who raced in unison in a share of
last position. The order remained unchanged until Clifford Lee made a sweeping run on Convergent to challenge Sea Scout for the lead turning into the Haydock home straight, relegating Sallaal into third position. Passing the two-furlong marker, push came to shove on Convergent and he began to weaken quickly as Sea Scout still held sway at the head of affairs travelling strongly under James Doyle. As they approached the final furlong, Dawson still had a few lengths to make up on the leader but, once he was asked for his effort, Sallaal quickened up smartly to challenge for the lead in a matter of strides. Despite Sea Scout digging in tenaciously once headed, he had no more left to give in the closing stages and had to settle for runner-up honours as Sallaal soon forged clear to score by one and three-quarter lengths. Nahraan stayed on for a never-nearer third, a further length behind.

A three-time winner in his debut season as a three-year-old entire last year, Sallaal had been gelded over the winter and has returned this term a much improved performer. Having finished second on his return in handicap company at Epsom over 10 furlongs, he soon went one better at that same venue six weeks later on Gr.1 Oaks day, winning by six and three-quarter lengths in an ultra competitive 16-runner field. Earning an official rating of 107 for that success, Sallaal was subsequently pitched into Stakes company for the first time in the Listed Gala Stakes, where he took the step up in class in his stride before yesterday’s landmark success. Improving at a rate of knots, the Gr.1 Champion Stakes looks a likely late season target for Varian’s charge.