Permian, a close relative of Varsfontein Stud’s successful resident sire Judpot, stamped himself as a potential contender for next month’s G1 Investec Derby by running out a convincing winner of the G2 Betfred Dante Stakes at York on Thursday.

The son of Teofilo made it career victory number five when scoring a three parts of a length win over G3 Craven Stakes third Benbatl, with the well hyped Crystal Ocean back in third, on Thursday, when picking up the first group win of his career.

Trained by Mark Johnston, and ridden to victory by Franny Norton, Permian hit the front with a furlong left to run and stayed on strongly to win. The colt looks likely to be supplemented for the Epsom based Investec Derby next month.

Permian, who had previously won the Listed Newmarket Stakes by four and a half lengths, adds his name to an illustrious list of past winners of the Dante Stakes (one of Britain’s principal Derby trials). Subsequent classic winners to have triumphed in the Dante include St Paddy, Shirley Heights, Shahrastani, Reference Point, Erhaab, Classic Cliche, Benny The Dip and recent champion/Investec Derby winner Golden Horn.

The 2017 Dante Stakes winner’s winning dam Tessa Reef (by Mark Of Esteem) is out of a full sister to dual Breeders’ Cup Mile winning champion Miesque –the dam of Judpot.

A consistently successful sire, Judpot is enjoying another top class season, with his stars including dual feature race winner and G2 Gerald Rosenberg Stakes winner Polyphonic, G1 filly Bi Pot and G2 Daisy Fillies Guineas runner up Final Judgement.

The son of A P Indy’s yearlings have also been in demand this year with a colt out of Requista fetching R1.2 million at the recent National Yearling Sale.