Native on the winning Trail for Appleby

CHARLIE APPLEBY c ompleted a Guineas treble as his Newmarket runner- up Native Trail obliged favourite backers in the Tattersalls Irish 2,000 Guineas at the Curragh.

Last year’s champion twoyear-old had to give best to his stablemate Coroebus in the first Classic of the summer on the Rowley Mile, but made no mistake this time around for Appleby, who also landed the Poule d’Essai des Poulains with Modern Games.

The 2-5 winner was settled in mid-division in the early stages, but responded best when called into action by jockey William Buick. As Wexford Native was taking over from long-time leader Malex, Buick was winding up his charge and hit the front heading into the final furlong. Native Trail kept on gamely to hold off fast-finishing duo New Energy (40-1) and fellow UK raider Imperial Fighter (28-1).

Appleby said: “I was confident in William and the horse, William knows him so well and has ridden him all of his racing career and plenty at home. He knows what this horse can do.

“The thought process before the race was to try to get out and get a box seat but once it wasn’t there, I could see what William was doing. It was one of those nice races to watch.”

Appleby is the first trainer since Aidan O’Brien in 2002 to land all the three versions of the Guineas in the same season. While the Ballydoyle handler did it with two colts in Rock Of Gibraltar and Landseer, Appleby is thrilled to have achieved the feat with three individual runners.

He added: “I’m delighted for the whole team, delighted for Godolphin and Sheikh Mohammed. To do what’s been done over the last month is a huge achievement, more importantly for the team at home and for his Highness. It’s the first time it’s ever been done with three different colts in the three Guineas. It’s a huge achievement for everybody and I’m delighted to be part of it.

Meanwhile, at Haydock, Karl Burke’s El Caballo claimed a sixth successive victory when triumphant in the Group Two Cazoo Sandy Lane Stakes, while at Musselburgh, Hilts won the £50,000 Edinburgh Cup for Jedd O’Keeffe and Rowan Scott, and Jim Goldie and Paul Mulrennan teamed up for a 727-1 treble with Tommy G, Yaaser and Lord Of The Glen.