Arthur Kitt proves an emotional winner of Chesham Stakes

Arthur Kitt claimed a fairytale success in the Chesham Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Tom Dascombe's charge is a son of the yard's 2012 Queen Mary Stakes heroine Ceiling Kitty, who died after giving birth to this Camelot colt.

Arthur Kitt proved he had inherited plenty of his mother's raw talent when making a successful racecourse debut at Haydock last month and he was a 13-2 chance stepped up to Listed class for the opening race on the final day of the Royal meeting.

It did not look great for his supporters for much of the seven-furlong journey, with the two-year-old having to be niggled along by Richard Kingscote from the halfway stage.

However, to his credit, Arthur Kitt responded to his riders urgings and as the front-runners fell away, the youngster battled his way to the lead and held off Nate The Great by a neck.

Natalie's Joy, the heavily backed 5-4 favourite, was disappointing.

Andrew Black, of winning owners Chasemore Farm, said: "This is so special. I've been more emotionally attached to this horse than any horse I've ever had.

"The night he was born was such an incredibly difficult, painful night. We put the mare down within literally seconds of having the problem and then we had problems getting the foal out. He had a twisted leg at that point and it took a long time for that to heal.

"We had to go and find a foster mare with him straight away, we put the call out and managed to get one and we've still got her today.

"When they're brought up by a foster mare they're kind of different and have different personalities. He was much more friendly than your average horse.

"I always hoped he would be special and we always felt this was the race.

"I thought we would win the Chesham and that would make it right somehow.

"I'm massively emotional."

Dascombe said: "It's just fantastic. It's a dream. We loved the mare and from the moment this horse came into the yard we loved him.

"I said he'd win on his debut at Haydock in May and then we'd go straight to the Chesham. For once, a plan worked out.

"Three out I thought he had no chance, but Richard said he gave him a smack and that was that.

"He's still a baby. Everything he does at home, he finds easy, so I suppose he doesn't come under pressure at home."

He added: "It's wonderful for Chasemore Farm and it's wonderful for Manor House Stables. It's no secret we've been having a quiet time. The horses haven't been running great this month, so to finish off with a winner at Ascot is not too shabby.

"You'd hope he'd go on to better things. He's done nothing wrong today. It's great for the team at home."

Chasemore Farm's in-house vet Patrick Sells explained what happened that sad night when Ceiling Kitty died.

"We had the panic when we knew something badly had gone wrong," he said, "the sorrow when you know you can't save the mare, then the relief when the foal is responding to resuscitation - it took a good five minutes for him to breath.

"We were thinking of giving up and he was like a phoenix through the flames to get through that.

"The joy of then seeing him with his black and white nanny mare on the farm, and he was always very calm and collected and this is the realisation of all our dreams. Andrew bred him for this race - and that is no exaggeration. Looking at Arthur now, the scope of him, I'll say he'll be a very exciting three-year-old."

Archie Watson saddled the runner-up Nate The Great.

He said: "I could not be happier. He is a lovely horse and we have loved him from the moment he came into the yard. He is a horse that probably wants a mile already.

"He was still very green today and I'm sure there is a lot of improvement to come.

"I may even just be minded to wait for the first mile stakes race, we will see. He has got a big future over middle distances next year."

Paul Cole said of the third, Duke Of Hazzard: "He is out of an Invincible Spirit mare that has a lot of speed, though I think an easy seven-furlong maiden would suit him next time out. He is getting better with every run.

"I think he will be better over seven on an easy track like Goodwood so that could be where he goes (for a maiden)."