Native Still On The Winning Trail

He was 1-4 and there were no anxious moments as Native Trail (GB) (Oasis Dream (GB) simply turned up and repeated his juvenile antics in Wednesday's G3 bet365 Craven S. at Newmarket. Taking some strides to organise himself as he had on this track and the July Course at two, the G1 Goffs Vincent O'Brien National S. and G1 Dewhurst S.-winning European champion juvenile got motoring out of the “dip” to brush aside the long-time leader Star of India (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and score by 3 1/2 lengths from the promising course maiden winner Claymore (Fr) (New Bay {GB}). “That was a perfect trial–they went a nice pace,” jockey William Buick said. “Everyone had been delighted with him at home and it was a proper trial.” Charlie Appleby added, “He has a big round action, but races economically and the right way round. He really comes up the rising ground and keeps finding all the way to the line. He was two kilos heavier today than he was in the Dewhurst and I'm a big believer that they should be the same weight going into the Guineas than they were then. At 540 kilos, he's the same weight as Adayar and Hurricane Lane. His racing brain has clicked in now and he saw the mile out well there.”

With Ryan Moore intent on keeping Star of India honest from the outset and Adam Kirby allowing Claymore to stride forward along with Rob Hornby on Zechariah (Ire) (Nathaniel {Ire}), it was clear from an early stage that this was not to be in any way tactical. Students of Native Trail would have known not to allow the blood pressure to rise a fraction when he was first pushed along by Buick, who is owning the Craven meeting at present, and by the two pole as he emerged in the line of contenders it was a case of accepting the inevitable. In beating a clutch of raw if deeply promising types in straightforward manner in a solid time, this proved little more than he has retained all his ability and that he stays the mile well but neither of those would have been under question to begin with. Whether he can ward off the likes of stablemate Coroebus (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) and Ballydoyle's Luxembourg (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) in two Saturdays' time is a different matter, but his attitude, experience and advantageous stride length will ensure he is heavily favoured to do so.

Claymore, who had impressed when winning his sole start here in October, is due to sidestep a second encounter with the winner and wait two more weeks for the G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulain at ParisLongchamp. “Adam said mentally he'll come on and he is having a good blow, so there is improvement everywhere,” trainer Jane Chapple-Hyam said. “I would say it'll be the French for him.”

If Native Trail is to win a Guineas, he will exceed the achievements of some prominent family members whose lights had blazed during their first season but had gone out by the month of May of their second. They include the unraced dam's full-sister Helleborine (GB) (Observatory), her asteroid-like son Calyx (GB) (Kingman {GB}) and another full-sibling's daughter Fair Eva (GB) (Frankel {GB}). Given that this Juddmonte dynasty also involves the unbeaten juvenile and ultimately-disappointing Distant Music, it would have been a relief for the team to see Native Trail come back as strong at three. One immediate family member who did go on to excel later as a 3-year-old was the dam Needleleaf's full-sister African Rose (GB), winner of the G1 Haydock Sprint Cup, and there is no indication that this winner's torch will die out any time soon.

Godolphin paid €950,000 at last year's Arqana Deauville August Yearling Sale for the winner's half-sister Tranquil Rose (Fr) by the sire of the aforementioned G2 Coventry S. winner Calyx, who is set to be one of Coolmore's most exciting young sires. This the family features the GI Jockey Club Gold Cup, GI Washington D.C. International and GI Suburban H.-winning champion Vanlandingham (Cox's Ridge), the GII Keeneland Turf Mile and G2 Prix Eugene Adam-winning sire Kirkwall (GB) (Selkirk) and the GI American Oaks heroine Funny Moon (Malibu Moon). Also connected to the GI Belmont S. hero and sire Temperence Hill, Needleleaf's yearling filly is by Siyouni (Fr).

Wedneesday, Newmarket, Britain
BET365 CRAVEN S.-G3, £80,000, Newmarket, 4-13, 3yo, c/g, 8fT, 1:35.91, gd.
1–NATIVE TRAIL (GB), 126, c, 3, by Oasis Dream (GB)
     1st Dam: Needleleaf (GB), by Observatory
     2nd Dam: New Orchid, by Quest for Fame (GB)
     3rd Dam: Musicanti, by Nijinsky II
(€50,000 Wlg '19 ARQDE; 67,000gns Ylg '20 TATOCT; 210,000gns 2yo '21 TATBRE). O-Godolphin; B-Le Haras d'Haspel (GB); T-Charlie Appleby; J-William Buick. £45,368. Lifetime Record: G1SW-Eng & Ire, 5-5-0-0, $751,551. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Claymore (Fr), 126, c, 3, New Bay (GB)–Brit Wit (GB), by High Chaparral (Ire).
1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GROUP TYPE. (€5,000 Ylg '20 ARQDOY; £10,000 2yo '21 TATGOR). O-Mrs Mary Slack; B-Guenther Schmidt (FR); T-Jane Chapple-Hyam. £17,200.
3–Hoo Ya Mal (GB), 126, c, 3, Territories (Ire)–Sensationally (GB), by Montjeu (Ire).
1ST GROUP TYPE. (40,000gns Ylg '20 TATOCT). O-Ahmad Al Shaikh; B-Meon Valley Stud (GB); T-Andrew Balding. £8,608.
Margins: 3HF, 1HF, 1 1/4. Odds: 0.25, 12.00, 0.00.
Also Ran: Kingmax (Ire), Star of India (Ire), Zechariah (Ire). Scratched: Al Mubhir (GB). Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.