Charlie Appleby has perhaps the most enviable headache in racing after Native Trail supplied the Godolphin trainer with Tattersalls Irish 2,000 Guineas glory at the Curragh on Saturday.
On the back of Coroebus carrying Godolphin’s blue silks to success in the Newmarket Guineas, and Modern Games doing likewise in the French version, Native Trial completed the rare hat-trick of Europe’s top mile classics for colts.
The 2-5 favourite had to work to get the better of 40-1 outsider New Energy but ultimately won with authority under jockey William Buick.
It was the first time the Guineas hat-trick has been completed by one trainer with three different horses and underlined the strength in depth available to Appleby.
“Coming into today, as calm and collected as you try to be, I knew what we were trying to achieve. Firstly trying to win a Guineas but, dare I say, trying to make history. That’s what this horse has done for the whole team today,” he said afterwards.
Native Trail had barely passed the post, however, before the Englishman was being quizzed about where his Classic trio will go next, how he might split them up, or even if they might clash at some point.
Coroebus is likely to return to action in the St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot and Appleby suggested on Saturday his Newmarket defeat of Native Trail might be an accurate reflection of their abilities.
Buick pinned the notable label of “freak” on to Coroebus but Native Trail still had his own St James’s Palace odds cut to 4-1 as well as getting 8-1 quotes for a step up in trip for the Eclipse.
Modern Games might even ultimately prove the joker in Godolphin’s Classic pack if successful in his next target, the French Derby.
Inevitably pressed on other future running plans, Appleby played the straightest of straight bats, pointing to how discussions will be held in the coming week with all concerned including the Godolphin boss Sheikh Mohammed.
However, he also appeared to embrace the idea of healthy sporting competition and the best taking on the best.
“Some nice conversations will be had!” Appleby said in relation to a possible rematch between Coroebus and Native Trail at Ascot.
“In all sports you like to see the two best take on each other, whether it be tennis or football teams. At the moment these colts are the best around over a mile so you’d like to see them have a crack at each other – you never know.
“Royal Ascot is the last time the three-year-olds can take each other on over a mile at that level,” he pointed out.
Having been crowned Europe’s top two-year-old last season, Native Trail’s future stallion career is assured having also secured his own Classic.
“When I saw him cross the line today I have to say it was a sigh of relief to say he’s got the job done,” Appleby commented.
“Everyone wants to see the champion two-year-old generation come out and fulfil their three-year old careers and that’s what he’s done. He lost nothing in defeat [at Newmarket]. Coroebus is a horse we thought highly of and had they be drawn together, would it have been a closer contest?
“We’ll never know that, but this horse doesn’t have to prove himself anymore. He’s a Classic winner at three and I’m delighted for the whole team,” he added.
Buick missed out on his own Guineas hat-trick having deserted Coroebus for Native Trail at Newmarket but was delighted with the latest Guineas hero getting a “deserved” Classic victory.
“Three Guineas with three different horses – amazing,” said the rider who was winning the fourth Curragh Classic of his career.
Buick had earlier landed the Weatherbys Greenlands Stakes on the English raider Brad The Brief.
Hugo Palmer’s charge was half a length too good for Mooneista whose cause wasn’t helped by the winner leaning right onto her in the closing stages. The 13-8 favourite A Case Of You was third.
Aidan O’Brien didn’t figure in the Guineas with Ivy League but if his three-year- old milers have mostly been underwhelming his two-year-old team have been flying.
Blackbeard secured the third victory of his fledgling career by making all in the Group Three Gain Marble Hill Stakes.
The 5-2 shot ran out three and a half lengths clear of the favourite Tough Talk and may take his shot at Royal Ascot’s Coventry Stakes next month.
“We thought coming here maybe he was a Windsor Castle or Norfolk type horse, a very fast horse. We weren’t sure about the six furlongs so it was great that he got the six that well – it leaves him open that he can run in a Coventry.
“He relaxed very well and quickened very well, that’s what you’d really love about him.
“No Nay Never [sire] is usually an influence for speed, which is good, but some of them don’t get beyond sprinting distances. Looking at this horse there is every chance that he could.
“He’s a strong, mature horse with a lovely mind,” O’Brien said.
Joseph O’Brien’s Buckaroo never landed a blow in the big race but the trainer had much better fortune in the Orby Stakes as Raise You beat his stable companion Okita Soushi for a stable one-two.
