TRAILBLAZER
Appleby colt ready to make his mark
NATIVE TRAIL has been backed to emulate a host of past Classicwinning giants by landing tomorrow’s Dewhurst Stakes en-route to next year’s 2,000 Guineas.
The unbeaten Charlie Applebytrained colt heads the betting for both tomorrow’s Group One at 4-6 and tops the bill at 4-1 for the 2,000 Guineas.
Headline acts New Approach, Frankel and St Mark’s Basilica captured the Dewhurst before becoming superstars.
It certainly will not be a walk in the park for Native Trial despite what the betting suggests.
He takes on seven smart colts over seven furlongs at Newmarket – Bayside Boy, Straight Answer, Glounthaune, Dubawi Legend, Berkshire Shadow, Dhabab and Go Bears Go.
Roger Varian, right, the trainer of last month’s Champagne Stakes winner Bayside Boy and the 5-1 second favourite, admitted Native Trail will be a tough nut to crack.
“We were very impressed with him at the Curragh, but our horse has only had three starts as well, and he couldn’t do much more than beat Reach For The Moon in the Champagne at Doncaster.
“He’d have to be considered as a high-class juvenile, I think. He’s a horse that will stay beyond seven furlongs, but he’s not a slow horse. He’s a strong traveller and has won a Group Two race that often points to the Dewhurst.” Having won the race seven times, Aidan O’brien’s runner Glounthaune cannot be ignored. Admittedly, this will be a huge step up for the Curragh maiden winner but with his trainer’s outstanding record, the colt is value at 12-1.
Latest Coral betting: 4-6 Native Trail, 5 Bayside Boy, Straight Answer, 12 Glounthaune, 16 Dubawi Legend, 20 Others.