Raheen House wins Bahrain Trophy at Newmarket

The Group Three contest was won by subsequent St Leger winner Masked Marvel in 2012 while last season's Classic hero, Harbour Law, finished fourth in this race over a mile and five furlongs.

The Brian Meehan-trained colt was sent off at 7/2 on the back of an encouraging run at Royal Ascot in the King Edward VII Stakes and came home strongly under Jamie Spencer.

Sofia's Rock, one of the outsiders in the field, was quick to move to the head of affairs and stayed against the stands' side rail despite four runners moving towards the centre of the track at the top of the long straight.

Jockey Silvestre de Sousa appeared to be in the right place as the action unfolded against the stands' rail with Sofia's Rock proving hard to pass.

Desert Skyline (11/1) attempted to throw down a challenge but never quite got there but he ran on well enough to follow Raheen House through to grab second once passed by the eventual winner on the rising ground with Sofia's Rock holding on for third.

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Sky Bet cut Raheen House to 16/1 from 25s for the William Hill St Leger at Doncaster while beaten favourite Atty Persse was pushed out to 25/1 from 16s.

Meehan, although he has yet to speak to the horse's owner to confirm plans, suggested that the Classic would be the objective.

"I would suggest we will go to the St Leger and leave him alone until then," he said.

"He wanted that extra furlong. He has always been progressive and really deserved this especially after his last run at Ascot. I was really pleased with that, it was top drawer. 

"All the horses were wrong when he won at Goodwood. We thought we would give him a break after Ascot and come back for this. I am pleased for the boys back home as it is a big week with a lot of racing. 

"I don't know that I want to be going back to a mile and a half and I would be quite happy to leave him for the St Leger. I imagine we will go straight there as that will suit the horse. That's the sensible place to go.

"I think the trip is fine and that's the way he wants to be ridden. Jamie gave him a top-notch ride today, he said he looked around him a little bit when he hit the front. He maybe hit the front a little bit soon and could have done it a little bit easier. He's a really proper horse."

Spencer added: "We went a good even gallop and we got racing quite a bit out. I was concerned four down, but I was hoping his stamina would kick in, which it did.

"Physically he's a horse who is going to improve as the year goes on. He was a bit unlucky at Ascot. I thought he should have been second. He was entitled to win today.

"He's a son of Sea The Stars out of a Germany family so he's going to improve and be an even better horse next year."

David Elsworth was pleased with Desert Skyline's effort in second and is eyeing the Ebor at York next month for the gelding.

He said: "I think it was a sound run. He didn't have a lot of luck at Ascot. He fell out the stalls and got in behind and it didn't work out for him.

"When he appears to be beaten he does keep finding. The winner was a good horse.

"Without getting carried away it was a very strong race and there was a fair bit of depth to it. I did put him in the Ebor and it always used to be a good race for three-year-olds. He is rated 100 and they might put him up a bit."

Mark Johnston felt long-time leader Sofia's Rock gave his all in third place.

"He ran a fantastic race. He was keen and this trip is the upper limit of him. His enthusiasm is almost his downfall as he is always on the cusp of doing too much," said the Middleham handler.

"The family get better with age and if he matures from three to four we have got a black type middle-distance horse on our hands."