Last season’s Champion Juvenile Native Trail had to settle for second place behind stablemate Coroebus in the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket. Still, he will get another chance to win a Classic when he takes part in the Irish 2,000 Guineas.
Charlie Appleby’s runner is expected to travel to Ireland for the opening Irish Classic of the Flat season.
The British trainer indicated after the race at Newmarket that he is keen to keep his two horses apart for the rest of the campaign, which will make Native Trail’s task easier at the Curragh.
Coroebus is set to head to Royal Ascot next month, where he is the 4/6 favourite in the horse racing betting online for the St James’s Palace Stakes.
He could appear in Ireland later in the campaign for one of the leading 1m races in the division.
Native Trail will be having his seventh racecourse appearance in the race in Ireland. He won all six of his starts prior to the 2,000 Guineas, including the 2021 National Stakes at the Curragh over 7f in 2021.
The son of Oasis Dream was less than a length behind Coroebus in the sole defeat of his career.
Appleby has made an excellent start to the season – plenty of success
It has been a brilliant 12 months for Appleby in Flat racing. He won the Derby for the first time at Epsom last June. He was also successful in the Irish Derby in 2021, as Hurricane Lane came out on top at the Curragh before prevailing in St Leger.
The Godolphin trainer has made an excellent start to the 2022 season, which raises the hopes of another good year.
Although he is based in the UK, Appleby is used to having international success. He often targets the big races in Ireland, France, and the USA.
The Irish 2,000 Guineas is a race the in-form trainer has yet to add to his CV. The best he could do last year was finish sixth with La Barrosa in the race won by Mac Swiney. He goes to the meeting this year with much stronger claims.
Buckaroo likely to be leading challenger against Native Trail – main competitor
Buckaroo is set to have his first shot at a Classic in the Irish 2,000 Guineas. Joseph O’Brien’s runner won a Listed race over the same course and distance on his latest appearance.
The three-year-old colt was impressive in that race as he stretched away from his rivals in the closing stages.
The Fastnet Rock colt has made a positive start to his campaign. He was second of nine runners in his seasonal reappearance in the Group Three Ballysax Stakes at Leopardstown over 1m2f.
O’Brien’s Classic contender also has an entry in the Derby and Irish Derby later this season. So, connections do believe he has the stamina to get further than 1m.
However, his latest performance will give them enough confidence that he can run a big race in the Irish 2,000 Guineas.
The final field for the Irish Classic will be confirmed on 19 May, 48 hours before the feature race on Irish Guineas weekend.
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