Marquand ‘really impressed’ as Youth Spirit advertises Derby claims on Roodee

Youth Spirit (centre, white and green) stayed on strongly to take the Chester Vase

Alan Crowhurst

The connections of last year’s Derby runner-up Khalifa Sat have another Classic contender in Youth Spirit after the Andrew Balding-trained colt landed the Group 3 Chester Vase Stakes.

Khalifa Sat was a 50-1 second for owner Ahmad Al Shaikh in the big race last year and Youth Spirit was shortened to 25-1 (from 100) for the Cazoo Derby with Betfair Sportsbook after his length and three-quarter triumph over Sandhurst.

Fancy Man ranged upsides favourite Wirko on the turn into the straight and looked the likeliest winner, but Youth Spirit found plenty for pressure under Tom Marquand to register a first Group success.

A length back in third was Fancy Man, while Wirko faded out of contention and was a further seven lengths behind in fourth.

Tom Marquand: said outh Spirit is a faster horse than last year’s Derby runner-up Khalifa Sat

Alan Crowhurst (Getty Images)

Marquand said: “I was really impressed with him. He was coming on and off the bridle the whole way round but he gets racing when you get serious on him. The question was whether he would stay a mile and a half and he’s answered that pretty well.”

The Chester Vase has a fair recent record for providing Derby pointers as 2017 runner-up Wings Of Eagles went on to land the Epsom Classic, while Ruler Of The World is the last horse to complete the Chester Vase-Derby double in 2013.

Youth Spirit, a son of Derby winner Camelot, was successful on one of his four starts at two and finished third to Battleground in the Vintage Stakes at Glorious Goodwood.

Anna Lisa Balding, wife of the trainer and a key figure at Kingsclere, said: “We’re so thrilled and we’ve always thought quite a lot of him. Having owned the second in the Derby last year, Ahmad will be very keen to go for the big one. He has an unbelievable passion for racing and Andrew loves training for him.”

Click here to watch Youth Spirit’s win in the Chester Vase

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FIRST PUBLISHED 3:24PM, MAY 5 2021