Western Daily Press (Saturday)
Big day for Godolphin
CHARLIE Appleby can dominate on a card packed with high-class action at Newmarket, where it could be a huge afternoon for the royal blue of Godolphin.
A week on from the disappointment for the Moulton Paddocks team in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, all eyes will be on Native Trail – with the 2000 Guineas favourite in line to deliver in the Dewhurst Stakes.
The Oasis Dream colt brings a perfect three-from-three record into the juvenile championship, most recently oozing class in the Curragh’s National Stakes.
Once engaging top gear he readily put the odds-on Point Lonsdale away, with Group One winner Ebro River in third.
Despite the betting speaking in favour of Aidan O’Brien’s runner, it was hardly a surprise, because Appleby had won the race before with top-notchers Quorto and Pinatubo.
His debut victory looks rock solid too, having beaten recent Royal Lodge winner Royal Patronage with ease. The further he went at the Curragh, the better he looked, and he will take some stopping once he meets the rising ground here.
The opening leg for Appleby comes with Goldspur, who hopefully puts his best foot forward in the Godolphin Flying Start Zetland Stakes.
He is undoubtedly talented, but equally he is also not quite straightforward – judged on his antics at Epsom, which ultimately led to him missing a race that would have given him automatic entry into the Derby. A touch fractious entering the parade ring before calming down, he then got very upset in the stalls and was withdrawn.
In contrast, his debut could not have gone much better, with the Dubawi colt attracting plenty of attention in cantering home by six and a half lengths over a mile at Sandown on easy ground. It looks like staying will be his game, so the ten furlongs of the Rowley Mile will be fine and the 33-1 about Epsom will disappear if he wins in style.
The Saeed bin Suroor-trained Live Your Dream, meanwhile, can strike for Godolphin too in the Cesarewitch.