Trainer Charlie Appleby insisted he was both “delighted and relieved” after seeing NATIVE TRAIL (GB) (Oasis Dream (GB) – Needleleaf (GB) by Observatory) strengthen his position as favourite for the first Classic of the season, the QIPCO 2000 Guineas at Newmarket on April 30 with a clear-cut success in the April 13 bet365 Craven Stakes.
Last sighted when ending his unbeaten two year old campaign with a second Group One success in the Darley Dewhurst Stakes, the powerfully-built son of Oasis Dream resumed where he left off with a victory that demonstrated he had clearly trained on.
Sent off the 1-4 favourite to make it a perfect five from five in the Group Three prize, Native Trail, despite coming under pressure early, never really looked in doubt of surrendering his unbeaten record under William Buick.
Finding plenty when going into over drive Native Trail continued to forge on meeting the rising ground to defeat Claymore by three and a half lengths to give Appleby and Buick their third victory in the race since 2018.
Following the race Native Trail was cut to 6-4 by both Paddy Power and Coral to win the QIPCO 2000 Guineas and become the first horse since Haafhd in 2004 to take the Classic after success in the Craven Stakes.
Appleby said: “I’m delighted. Watching the race, I was happy throughout even when he came under the pump. I could hear everybody in the stands saying he is under pressure but we know this horse.
“What I love about him is that he does it all the right way round. He is not one of these horses that is a free traveller, that you think is doing too much and what is he going to find.
“You know once this horse hits the rising ground and gets into a battle he is going to keep finding. I’m delighted and relieved.
“He has got a lovely run style. I know people say he might be a bit round and when he comes into the dip, he might come under the pump a bit. But when hits that rising ground, he races the right way around and in an economical fashion.
Richard Fahey has saddled 10 Group One winners in his training career but hopes to land his first ever Classic on Saturday when PERFECT POWER (Ire) (Ardad (Ire) – Sagley (Ire) by Frozen Power (Ire)) lines up in the QIPCO 2000 Guineas at Newmarket on Saturday.
Perfect Power, who races in the colours of Sheikh Rashid Dalmook Al Maktoum, has already won twice at Group One level, taking the Prix Morny at Deauville and Juddmonte Middle Park Stakes at Newmarket in 2021, both of which were over six furlongs.
Now North Yorkshire-based handler Fahey hopes he can replicate that form in the mile contest, which is not only the first Classic of the year but the opening race in the 2022 QIPCO British Champions Series.
It is 30 years since the winner of the Middle Park Stakes went on to win the 2000 Guineas the following year – when Rodrigo de Triano handed legendary jockey Lester Piggott his 30th and final Classic winner in 1992.
Speaking at an online press conference organised by British Champions Series, Fahey said he and his team are relishing taking on odds on favourite Native Trail.
He explained: “The Guineas is one that has eluded me but we are looking forward to it. It’s why you get up in the morning for days like this. As a small trainer in the north, we are taking on the big boys and I just hope we can beat him (Native Trail).
“The opportunity to get a colt like this guy is very few and far between and I just love him. He is an exciting horse to train even if he never over-expresses himself at home – he just sleeps and eats.
“He’s a dude – a very relaxed character that never gets flustered or turns a hair. But when he gets to the track he picks up and has a blistering turn of foot.”
A son of Ardad, Perfect Power began his 2022 season perfectly at Newbury on April 16th, when he made a winning reappearance in the Group Three Greenham Stakes over seven furlongs.
The trainer said: “I didn’t have him fully wound up for the Greenham.
“In my own mind, I felt he would stay seven furlongs but I also felt we’d learn a little bit about him. The last thing I wanted for him was to be fully wound up because it had looked like we wouldn’t be going for the Guineas after Newbury, we would then have had a dry spell of two months or so before he would run again.
“It’s a huge step to go from six furlongs to a mile, which I hate doing, so that is why we didn’t go for the Craven and went to Newbury instead.
“We used Newbury as a prep. I thought he was a little bit chubby round the edges walking round the parade ring, but in my mind I left improvement in him. He needed the run and took a big blow afterwards, which is unusual for one of ours. There was no hiding place in the race and it has put him spot on and I haven’t had to do much with him since. We are very happy.”
Looking at Saturday’s contest, for which 15 colts were declared today, Fahey has an open mind but admits he tried to secure the favourite Native Trail for himself when he was offered for sale at last year’s Tattersalls Craven Breeze-Up Sale.
He said: “There are quite a lot in there that look like they’ll get further so there will be no hiding place and you’ll have to get the trip well. It can only be a plus he’s already won at Newmarket.
“Funnily enough I tried to get a client to buy Native Trail when Norman Williamson sold him as a two-year-old. We were an under-bidder but weren’t too far off, so he’s a horse I’ve always been taken by. He’s done nothing on track to change my mind and his performance the other day was very good.”
Saturday, Newmarket, post time: 10:40 a.m. EST
THE QIPCO 2000 GUINEAS S. (CLASS 1) (GROUP 1) (BRITISH CHAMPIONS SERIES)-G1, £500,000, 3yo, c/f, 8f 0y
SC HORSE SIRE OWNER TRAINER JOCKEY WT
1 Berkshire Shadow (GB) Dark Angel (Ire) Berkshire Parts & Panels Ltd No1 Fanclub Andrew Balding Jason Watson 126
2 Boundless Ocean (Ire) Teofilo (Ire) Mrs J. S. Bolger J. S. Bolger Kevin Manning 126
3 Checkandchallenge (GB) Fast Company (Ire) Mr A. Hetherton William Knight Daniel Tudhope 126
4 Coroebus (Ire) Dubawi (Ire) Godolphin Charlie Appleby James Doyle 126
5 Dubawi Legend (Ire) Dubawi (Ire) Dr Ali Ridha Hugo Palmer Tom Marquand 126
6 Eydon (Ire) Olden Times (GB) Prince A. A. Faisal Roger Varian David Egan 126
7 Light Infantry (Fr) Fast Company (Ire) Never Say Die Partnership David Simcock Jamie Spencer 126
8 Lusail (Ire) Mehmas (Ire) Al Shaqab Racing Richard Hannon Pat Dobbs 126
9 Luxembourg (Ire) Camelot (GB) Westerberg/Mrs J Magnier/M Tabor/D Smith Aidan O’Brien 126
10 Native Trail (GB) Oasis Dream (GB) Godolphin Charlie Appleby William Buick 126
11 Perfect Power (Ire) Ardad (Ire) Sheikh Rashid Dalmook Al Maktoum Richard Fahey C. Soumillon 126
12 Point Lonsdale (Ire) Australia (GB) D.Smith,Mrs J.Magnier,M.Tabor,Westerberg Aidan O’Brien 126
13 Royal Patronage (Fr) Wootton Bassett (GB) Highclere T’Bred Racing – Woodland Walk C & M Johnston Jason Hart 126
14 Tacarib Bay (GB) Night of Thunder (Ire) Mr J. R. Shannon Richard Hannon Sean Levey 126
15 The Wizard of Eye (Ire) Galileo Gold (GB) O Humphrey A Favell R Humphrey J S Moore J. S. Moore John Egan 126
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