Varian hoping for Gala performance from Sallaal

Roger Varian has challenged Sallaal to confirm the impressive nature of his recent Epsom handicap success when he takes on some proven performers in the Davies Insurance Solutions Gala Stakes at Sandown on Friday.

The four-year-old earned rave reviews for his facile six-and-a-half-length victory on Oaks day, earning a 12lb rise from the handicapper that now leaves him returning to Listed company with a rating of 119 and heading the field of six on official figures.

However, the Carlburg Stables handler is wary his in-form four-year-old faces some experienced rivals at the Esher track and is well aware the son of Frankel – who is out of Varian’s first ever Group One winner Nahrain – will have to bring his best to the table.

Varian said: “He’s a lovely horse, but he needs to back it up now and it’s one thing to do it in handicap company, albeit off a big weight, and although he ran to a big figure at Epsom, this is no easy Listed race.

“If you look at ratings, many of them are rated over 110 and it’s a meaty Listed race, but at the same time the right one for him to be in at this stage of his career.”

He added: “I’m really happy with him I have to say, but it’s going to be a different kind of test and hopefully he can build on that performance at Epsom and confirm the rating he has been given – 119 is a big mark to come out of a handicap with, so he has to justify it now and fingers crossed he will.”

Dr Richard Newland and Jamie Insole’s Dividend was a highly-respectable third in the Wolferton Stakes at Royal Ascot when last seen, finishing ahead of Richard Hannon’s reopposing Persica in fifth and Royal Rhyme (14th) who is one of two in the race for Karl Burke alongside Boiling Point.

Completing the sextet is Hugo Palmer’s Glacius, a handy performer at two who was beaten only a length and a quarter when making his seasonal reappearance in the Hampton Court Stakes at the Royal meeting.

Rob Speers, racing manager for owner Ibrahim Araci said: “The horse just wasn’t right in the spring and Mr Araci and Hugo agreed to be patient with him and they gave him lots of time. There was no setback and never lame, he was just wrong in his coat.

“He had a Guineas entry, he had Derby trial entries and he had a Derby entry, and we had to sit and watch all of them go by until he got ready to a point where he could start.

“To make his debut this year in the Hampton Court, having been off the track for 250 days and to run like he did, is a huge training performance from Hugo and it is really good to have an owner like Mr Araci, who was able to watch all those entries go by and all that money disappear and be patient.

“Billy (Loughnane) just said in the final 100 yards that that lack of a run just toll at the end and emptied that final 100 yards. Hopefully now he will reward everyone for that patience as the season goes on.”

Meanwhile, Nigel Tinkler is convinced Ronson can benefit from swerving Royal Ascot to take his chance in the Coral Dragon Stakes.

He was a well-beaten seventh of nine on his racecourse debut at Beverley in a race won by Kevin Ryan’s smart unbeaten colt Matteo.

But the son of Ubettabelieveit put that right on his next outing on the Westwood when he galloped home five lengths clear of Navy Light to break his maiden.

He then stepped up in graded again at Beverley in the Two Year Old Trophy when he came face-to-face with Matteo again and this time he fared much better and was only a short head down in second despite taking his time getting up to speed.

Tinkler said: “He was a bit unfortunate the last day, he wasn’t slow out of the stalls but he was a little bit slow into his stride and then he got into a bit of traffic problems and finished second, but I think the winner was quite useful and we were very pleased, he is a nice horse.

“He won well before that and produced a good time over the last furlong so we’re more than happy and we’re looking forward to it.

“We thought about going to Ascot, but we just felt the occasion – he’s never been to a sales ring, he’s quite babyish and we thought going for this race with only about seven or eight runners would be more ideal for him at this time in his career.

“He won’t mind the ground and I hope they have watered well, let’s hope it’s not too firm but it was quite quick when he was second last time.”

Ronson will face eight rivals, with Richard Hughes’ Ascot-winning Bint Archange looking to get back to winning ways after disappointing in the Queen Mary at the Royal meeting.