Progressive young stayers by Camelot are always of interest to Australians given his success here as the sire of Group I winners Russian Camelot and Sir Dragonet so the win of Youth Spirit in the Group III Chester Vase (1m 4 ½ f) caught the eye.
Trained by Andrew Balding and ridden by Tom Marquand, Youth Spirit was having his second run this year following a first up fourth in a Listed race at Newmarket.
Youth Spirit relished the longer trip, cruising clear to win by a length and three-quarters over Coolmore’s Galileo colt Sandhurst with Pride of Dubai colt Fancy Man a fading third.
“Andrew has always thought a lot of Youth Spirit, but I think the pedigree has been the question. He's shown what we wanted to find out. His owner is a big supporter of the Derby and I'd be amazed if he wasn't keen to turn up at Epsom,” said Anna Lisa Balding, trainer's wife.
Bought for 48,000 euros from the Arqana Deauville Yearling Sale, Youth Spirit runs for Ahmad Al Shaik and is the first winner for Rocana, an unraced half-sister by Fastnet Rock to Group II winner Blaine and stakes-winner Bogart, who are both six furlong horses.
Youth Spirit is the 36th stakes-winner for Camelot and is the 42nd for champion sire Fastnet Rock as a broodmare sire.
