Son Of Camelot Shows His Class In Chester Cup

The future looks bright for Cleveland (4c Camelot - Venus De Milo, by Duke Of Marmalade) after the lightly-raced colt produced a career-best performance in Friday’s prestigious Chester Cup.

The Aidan O’Brien-trained bay impressed in a Curragh maiden at the end of his two-year-old campaign and produced a promising effort on his belated return in March. The Coolmore homebred made a significant step up to two miles and two furlongs at Chester, where Ryan Moore positioned him at the back of the field and made steady headway from three furlongs out. Switched right to challenge approaching the final furlong, he led 110 yards from home and stayed on well to score by a neck. The 95-rated Coltrane (Mastercraftsman) finished second, while the 100-rated Rajinsky (Zoffany) took third.

“I always felt like I was going to win if I could find the right gaps and get enough space,” Ryan Moore said after the race. “We always knew he was a very classy horse,” O’Brien added. “Now that we know he stays, Ascot will be the plan for him. He's in the big races there and we'll see how he comes out of Chester before deciding which way we'll go.”

The Ascot Gold Cup and Hardwicke Stakes are possible targets for the son of Camelot, who is out of dual Group 3 winner Venus De Milo.