PROGRESSIVE SALLAAL BRINGS UP THREE-TIMER IN BETWAY ROSE OF LANCASTER STAKES AND CALENDAR GIRL DEFIES LONG ABSENCE TO TAKE LISTED HONOURS

Press Release 8th August 2026 Haydock Park

By Ben Cox

The superbly bred Sallaal (1-2 Favourite) made it three wins in a row at Haydock Park today when landing the feature £95,000 Group Three Betway Rose of Lancaster Stakes over a mile and a quarter.

Sired by the great Frankel and out of US Grade One winner Nahrain, the four-year-old gelding is a full-brother to last year’s 1000 Guineas heroine Elmalka and a half-brother to multiple Group One winner Benbatl. Sallaal came into today’s contest on the back of impressive victories on his latest two starts in a competitive handicap at Epsom Downs and in the Listed Gala Stakes at Sandown Park.

Partnered once again by Ray Dawson, Sallaal raced in second place early on behind leader Sea Scout (11-1). He was relegated to third place by Convergent entering the straight before being delivered with his challenge entering the final furlong. He stayed on well to overhaul Sea Scout by a length and three quarters with another length back to the staying on Nahraan (5-1) in third.

Sallaal, who races in the famous yellow and black silks of owner Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum and is trained in Newmarket by Roger Varian, is entered in the Group One Qatar Racing Champion Stakes at Ascot in October for which Betway now make him a 16-1 chance.

Winning jockey Ray Dawson said: “I am delighted with him. It’s probably the slowest he’s ever been in a race, but he behaved really well. Cliff’s horse (Convergent) being a bit keen probably helped the race and set it up for me a bit better – it would have been a real sprint otherwise.

“I am delighted with this horse’s progression. Tony Proctor who rides him out has been magic with this horse this year - he’s got him really relaxed and kept him calm. He’s actually a very well-behaved horse - it’s just habit more than anything. He just keeps progressing and I couldn’t be happier with him really.

“It was kind of a sprint in the last three and a half furlongs today and he’s not a sprinter. He’s more of a stayer though not slow by any means. He stays very well and has got a good cruising speed. The race worked against us today as we couldn’t use that cruising speed early doors but as soon as he felt Oisin (Murphy, rider of Nahraan) come to me, he’s actually gone on and was hard to pull up.

“It will be exciting to see where he goes next. That’s not my job and Roger has trained him perfectly this season – he hasn’t jumped too high too early and has progressed him from a big handicap to a Listed to a Group Three. There are options for him, and I’m sure whatever decision they make will be the right one.”

SALLAAL 106 Haydock.JPG

Sallall winning today

Today’s main supporting race was the £70,000 Listed Irish Stallion Farms EBF Dick Hern Stakes over a mile for fillies and mares, which saw Calendar Girl (13-2) defy a 302-day absence to take the honours.

The three-year-old Advertise filly won three of her four starts in 2025, culminating with victory in the Group Three Oh So Sharp Stakes at Newmarket in October.

Ridden today by Callum Rodriguez, Calendar Girl was settled towards the rear of the 10 runners. She made significant progress approaching the final quarter mile and went to the front entering the final furlong. At the finish, she came home a length and a quarter to the good over Pacific Mission (12-1) with another neck back to 11-8 Favourite Fallen Angel in third.

Winning trainer Owen Burrows, who is based in Lambourn, said: “I am very pleased. It was a big team effort, including by Chloe who looks after her and Frankie who rides her at home.

“For whatever reason, in early spring I just wasn’t happy with her. She wasn’t healthy and I couldn’t get a clean scope off her. She wasn’t lame or anything, but I just couldn’t get a clean scope, and she wasn’t healthy even though the rest of my string were fine.

“She was turned out for all of May. She went on the walker and then had four or five hours turned out. When she came back in she had put on plenty of condition and it has taken me this long to get her fit.

“Fair play to everyone including the owners Kennet Valley, they have been great. It was disappointing early on in the year, as we would have been looking at a Guineas trial. Their patience has been rewarded today and hopefully we can go on to better things.

“She has a Sun Chariot Stakes entry and there is potentially the Breeders’ Cup to look at. We’ll see how she comes out of this. It was just great to get her back on the track today. We have been pleased with her at home, and she was showing all the right signs. I don’t want to tempt fate but every scope I’ve had off her in the last two months has been clean.

“She saw the trip out well today. I was never too concerned about that to be honest. Callum said she was a little bit rusty from three out to the two and was just doing enough in front, but it was a nice performance.

“We enjoy coming up to Haydock. It’s a long way and you have to fight the M6 but that’s I think our fourth big winner in the last five years here so it’s certainly worth it.”