‘Half-asleep’ Rohaan can be wide awake for Ascot’s big day

David Evans’ keen eye was drawn to a cast-off – with a family connection to his yard – at last autumn’s Horses In Training Sales.

He snapped up Rohaan, then rated only 55 and a halfbrother to former stable star Dougan, for a bargain £21,000.

Seven wins later – two of them Group races – and Evans is taking aim at Saturday’s £500,000 six-furlong sprint prize on QIPCO British Champions Day.

The climax of the Flat campaign brings the season’s equine stars together at Ascot, and crowns champion jockey and trainer.

Evans, who trains in the shadow of the Black Mountains in Wales, won’t be troubling Andrew Balding and Charlie Appleby for the trainer title.

However, the veteran handler would achieve a career high – at the age of 68 – if Rohaan secures his first Group One.

The three-yearold gelding is jointsecond-favourite at 6/ 1 behind Starman.

It’s been some journey for Rohaan since finishing seventh at 150/ 1 in a Class 5 Novice Stakes at Kempton last November.

Evans, twice trainer of a century of winners in a season, said: “I could train 100 winners a year, and nobody would notice. But when you have a horse like Rohaan, everybody knows about it.

“I’m now able to go to sales and, for the first time, spend a bit of money on nice twoyear-olds for next year. I’ve probably got a couple of new owners through him.

“He’s the horse of my lifetime. He’s really well and, if luck goes with him, I don’t think there’s anything in the Ascot race to beat him.”

Rohaan’s Wokingham performance – a first Royal Ascot victory for Evans in 31 years of trying – was spectacular under Shane Kelly.

It’s not been so smooth a passage since in three runs in top-class company.

Evans said: “He does everything so easily, nothing is any effort to him.

“He’s half-asleep most of the time, but has such a turn of foot – so long as he’s close enough to use it.

“At the Curragh, he was 15 lengths behind after being left in the stalls. I couldn’t believe he’d finish so close.

“In many ways, it was demoralising to watch, but nice to see him back in form.”