A new Classic contender emerges for Camelot as Youth Spirit strikes at Chester

Camelot already has one lively contender for Epsom glory in the shape of 1,000 Guineas fourth Santa Barbara, and the sire also saw his son Youth Spirit enhance his claims for the Cazoo Derby in just over four weeks' time with a stylish success in the Group 3 Chester Vase on Wednesday.

The three-year-old colt was bred in partnership by Ringfort Stud and Paul Hancock and is the first foal out of the unraced Fastnet Rock mare Rocana. Youth Spirit saw out the extended mile-and-a-half trip around the Roodee with aplomb, suggesting he has inherited plenty of his sire's stamina.

View full Chester Vase result and replay

The female side of his pedigree is far more speed oriented, with the dam a half-sister to Gimcrack Stakes scorer Blaine, Redcar Two-Year-Old Trophy victor Bogart and the smart Byline, all of whom showed their best form over six furlongs.

Another sibling in Legal Attack, a three-year-old son of Shalaa, was beaten just a short head over a mile at Goodwood on Friday.

Youth Spirit (white) wins the Group 3 Chester Vase StakesCredit: Alan Crowhurst

Although Fastnet Rock was a champion sprinter in his native Australia, where he has bred similarly speedy Group 1-winning offspring such as Catchy, Foxwedge and Merchant Navy, he can be considered another potential source of stamina as he has also produced his share of middle-distance types, particularly from his shuttle trips to Coolmore's Irish base.

These are headed by Oaks heroine Qualify, as well as dual Group 1 winner Fascinating Rock and Pretty Polly Stakes scorer Diamondsandrubies.

His record as damsire is similarly diverse across the distance spectrum, with his daughters' roll of honour headed by the dams of Group 1-winning sprinters Santa Ana Lane and Gytrash as well as Hampton Court Stakes victor Russian Emperor.

Fastnet Rock is also the damsire of current Derby favourite High Definition, a son of Galileo who was bred Aidan and Annemarie O'Brien's Whisperview Trading. He is currently unbeaten in two starts, including the Group 2 Beresford Stakes.

Fastnet Rock on show at CoolmoreCredit: Coolmore

Camelot, sire of seven Group 1 winners and 59 other stakes-calibre performers, won the Derby himself in 2012, and has nine sons entered in this year's blue riband, including the progressive Sir Lamorak, who was withdrawn from Wednesday's contest.

Youth Spirit is also the latest Group winner to roll off the Ringfort Stud production line after the farm supplied last year's Group 2-winning juvenile trio of Minzaal, Miss Amulet and Ubettabelieveit.

Those exploits saw Derek and Gay Veitch, who run the County Offaly operation, named breeders of the year at the Irish Thoroughbred Breeders' Association awards evening.

The Ahmad Al Shaikh-owned and Andrew Balding-trained Youth Spirit has twice been through the sales ring, first when fetching €60,000 from Global Thoroughbred Services as a foal at Goffs, before Federico Barberini struck a private deal to secure the youngster at €48,000 at the Arqana August Yearling Sale.

Fountain flourishes

The Listed Weatherbys ePassport Cheshire Oaks earlier on the card went the way of Godolphin homebred Dubai Fountain, who supplied Teofilo with his 97th individual stakes winner.

She was shortened into around 14-1 for the Cazoo Oaks, and as well as progressive form she also boasts a pedigree featuring plenty of black type - albeit not all of it on the Flat.

View full Cheshire Oaks result and replay

The Mark Johnston-trained filly is the fifth foal out of the Dubawi mare Nafura, whose other progeny include the Listed-placed Dark Angel colt Real World and Leoncavallo, a ten-time scorer by Cape Cross whose seven National Hunt victories include the Listed Wensleydale Juvenile Hurdle.

Dubai Fountain lands the Listed Weatherbys ePassport Cheshire OaksCredit: Alan Crowhurst

In turn, Nafura is a sibling to four stakes performers, most notably dual Group 1-winning Librettist and Queen Anne Stakes scorer Dubai Destination, as well as the Group 2 Bosphorus Cup winner Secret Number.

There are more classy milers and sprinters further back, with July Cup hero Agnes World and Breeders' Cup Mile victor Tourist appearing beneath the second dam.

Should Dubai Fountain go on to score at Epsom, or in any other Group 1, she would become the third top-level winner Johnston has trained by Teofilo following on from the victories of Gear Up and Subjectivist in the Criterium de Saint-Cloud and Prix Royal-Oak respectively.

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