Native Trail (GB)

out of an unraced half-sister to the top-class sprinter African Rose; sold for 210,000gns at the breeze-ups and started repaying that sum by comfortably winning a 7f maiden at Sandown in June 2021; followed up in Group 2 Superlative Stakes at Newmarket in July despite racing keenly; decisive winner of Group 1 National Stakes at the Curragh (7f) in September, beating a good yardstick in Point Lonsdale by three and a half lengths; equally impressive when winning Group 1 Dewhurst Stakes (7f) in October, emulating Pinatubo, who won both the National Stakes and Dewhurst in 2019; made a successful 3yo comeback when landing the Craven Stakes by over 3l; finished second in 2000 Guineas behind stablemate Coroebus on next start (clear of third); followed that with a win in the Irish 2000 Guineas at the Curragh at the end of May; close third of six in Coral-Eclipse (1m2f) in early July with the step up in trip not appearing to be a problem; disappointing in that context when well held behind Baaeed in Juddmonte International at York (10f) in August; looked a bit rusty when second of five behind Mutasaabeq in Group 2 over 1m at Newmarket in May 2023; also below his best inthe Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot, finishing eighth.