'He's class but nobody seems to realise it' - 33-1 Rohaan defies the odds again

Rohaan proved to be an outlier for the second time in a matter of weeks after denting some big reputations in the Sandy Lane Stakes.

Having won last month's Group 3 Pavilion Stakes at Ascot as a 22-1 shot, Rohaan caused an even bigger surprise in the second of the main trials for the Commonwealth Cup by holding off joint-favourite Dragon Symbol by a nose under Shane Kelly at odds of 33-1.

Despite showing himself to be a three-year-old sprinter of great repute, the son of Mayson will not be able to run in the Commonwealth Cup at the royal meeting as he is a gelding.

Trainer David Evans admitted to only discovering that stipulation following Rohaan's success in the Pavilion and the hastily arranged plan to take in this £90,000 Casumo-sponsored Group 2 was rewarded.

"I don't know why he was such a big price as the form was there," said Evans. "He's a class horse but nobody seems to realise it. It was a bit of a rush to get here as we were aiming for Ascot as we didn't realise he couldn't run in the Commonwealth Cup."

Rohaan does it again as the David Evans-trained gelding causes a major upset for the second successive Group race, narrowly denying joint-favourite Dragon Symbol (left)Credit: Pool

Last year as a juvenile, Rohaan shed his maiden tag on his fourth start – and second for Evans – off a mark of 55 in a Class 6 nursery at Newcastle.

His remarkable rise hit a new summit here, and Rohaan may still head to Royal Ascot for the Wokingham – for which he was cut to 10-1 (from 16-1) by Paddy Power – although Evans seemed lukewarm about that idea.

"He'll get a penalty for the Wokingham and there's the Jersey over seven furlongs, but I don't really know. It doesn't matter after that. This was the logical race to go for and he's shown he goes on any ground."

After the photo-finish went his way, Kelly said: "I didn't know if I'd got there, but he was great. I got there too soon and I'd have been sick if I got beat.

"Dave is a top man and his horses are always tough and hardy – he got me out of jail. The horse is improving and hopefully he hasn't stopped doing so yet."

Members can watch the replay here

Rohaan had a change of ownership after winning at Ascot with Crystal Palace defender James Tomkins involved in the new partnership with long-time friend Chris Kiely.

With Tomkins preparing for Sunday's clash with Liverpool at Anfield, Kiely was left to field the congratulations.

He said: "There were big offers for this horse from Hong Kong, but I said to James there was an opportunity to buy him and he jumped on it.

"Dave assured me he was a good buy and I'm his biggest fan and didn't want him to lose the horse. I wasn't confident he'd won as it was such a close finish, and it's a dream he's managed to do it. He's paid for himself ten times over today."

Dragon Symbol was aiming to extend his unbeaten run to five and emerged with credit after only going down narrowly on unsuitably heavy ground.

He was left unchanged at 10-1 for the Commonwealth Cup by Betfair Sportsbook, and Adam McNamara was looking forward to getting him back on a sounder surface.

The jockey said: "He's run a blinder. He travelled really well and it wasn't his ideal ground, and I probably got there a bit too soon. He was having a good look around in front again and is still a bit babyish, but he's going to learn a lot from that."

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Expert Jury: 'this was a serious performance and Mac Swiney is bred for Derby test'

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Lee Mottershead: the sport is silly and snooty to impose a Group 1 ban on geldings like Rohaan (Members' Club)

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