NAT WILL DO
Appleby completes historic treble after Native Trail’s great escape
NATIVE TRAIL and William Buick were the stars of Prison Break in the Tattersalls Irish 2,000 Guineas to complete an historic hat-trick for Charlie Appleby.
Having saddled Coroebus to land the QIPCO 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket three weeks earlier and Modern Games to lift the French version, the Poule d’Essai des Poulains, at Longchamp a week ago, the Godolphin trainer was seeking a first – to win the three Classics with a trio of different colts.
After his three-quarterlength second over the Rowley Mile – the defeat was the first of his career – champion two-year-old Native Trail went off the 2-5 to beat eight rivals at the Curragh.
Buick, corralled to the inside of the field by a stall one draw, was animated in his bid for freedom running to the final three furlongs of the mile test.
But, once finding clear water, Native Trail answered Buick’s every call to beat 40-1 outsider New Energy by a length and a quarter.
“It’s amazing – a fantastic achievement,” smiled Appleby. “We’ve been fortunate to win these three Group 1 races.
“He was in a bit of a pocket there but one thing coming into the race was he was the class horse. If he needs to make a hole, he can make a hole.
“He’s a big, imposing horse. There was a sigh of relief when he crossed the line but I wasn’t anxious throughout.
“He lost nothing in the English Guineas, as Coroebus is a horse that we think highly of, but this horse doesn’t have to prove himself any more. He’s a Classic winner at three, and I’m delighted for the whole team.”
Recounting his feat of escapology – Ryan Moore on Ivy League was leaning on his cell door – Buick (below) said: “I knew from a fair way out that I’d be having to work my way out and I had the horse to do it – he’s got plenty of size and scope.
“We got a nice seam
towards the outside and got running in time. He’s an
exceptional horse, he’s uncomplicated and he’s there for you when you need him.
“He really deserved to win a Guineas after going down narrowly at Newmarket.”
A step up to a mile and a quarter beckons during the summer but Appleby will first consider a rematch between Native Trail and Coroebus – the two horses were drawn on the extremities of the 15-runner field at Newmarket – in the St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot next month.
“We were drawn on two flanks and people have their opinions, ‘Had they been drawn together, would it have been a closer contest’?” reflected Appleby.
“Conversations will be had over the next 10 days in respect to do we allow them to take each other on in the St James’s Palace.
“It is a fantastic race and it’s the last chance for these three-year-olds competing over the mile against each other.”
■ KING’S LYNN was cut to 14-1 to give the Queen a victory in Royal Ascot’s Group 1 King’s Stand Stakes after denying Twilight Calls by a head in the Group 2 Cazoo Temple Stakes at Haydock.