Al Aasy delivers flawless performance to secure Rose of Lancaster honors
Betfred Rose of Lancaster Stakes: Al Aasy Secures Last-Gasp Victory
In a thrilling finish at Haydock, Al Aasy displayed remarkable determination to snatch victory in the Betfred Rose of Lancaster Stakes. Trained by William Haggas and previously narrowly beaten by Pyledriver in the Coronation Cup at Epsom, Al Aasy has shown great promise after being gelded.
Last season saw him make only one appearance, where he claimed a Listed win at Ascot. However, his return to action at Newmarket was less impressive as he finished far behind. Nevertheless, three weeks later at Newbury, he bounced back with a resounding win.
Entering the Group Three race on Merseyside as the firm favorite with odds of 6-5, ridden by Jim Crowley, Al Aasy settled towards the rear for much of the challenging ten-furlong journey. With impeccable timing and an unstoppable burst of speed during the final stretch, he managed to reel in El Drama and crossed the line with a neck-length advantage.
Midnight Mile followed behind almost three lengths adrift to secure third place. The assistant trainer Maureen Haggas expressed her satisfaction with both horse and jockey’s performance:
“He was good today; both horse and jockey were exceptional,” said Maureen Haggas. “Jim mentioned that they remained composed throughout while observing things unfold ahead. It required immense effort from our horse to close in on El Drama during those closing stages, but he showed incredible determination to prevail.”
Reflecting on Al Aasy’s journey, Maureen Haggas highlighted the positive impact of bringing him back to a mile and a quarter:
“He travels through the race with ease,” she explained. “Today, he truly seemed to be enjoying himself. He has faced some unfair criticism in the past, but since being gelded, we have never doubted his authenticity. He had some unfortunate moments before that decision was made; however, since then, it has undoubtedly helped him.”
Looking ahead, Maureen Haggas acknowledged that future plans for Al Aasy will be determined by William Haggas:
“William will assess our next steps,” she revealed. “Al Aasy has previously triumphed in Group Three races and displayed competitiveness at the highest level as well. Despite his age and limited racing experience due to various circumstances—similar to Hamish—he still possesses immense potential.”