Established trail leads Saba Desert to G1 Vincent O’Brien National Stakes

Unbeaten colt Saba Desert bids to emulate some of Godolphin’s brightest stars with victory in the G1 Vincent O’Brien National Stakes at the Curragh on Sunday, 14 September.

Five horses in the royal blue silks have captured Ireland’s premier juvenile race, including Champion Two-Year-Olds Dawn Approach (2012), Pinatubo (2019) and Native Trail (2021) in addition to the world's most successful active stallion Dubawi (2004).

Dubawi, Native Trail and 2018 winner Quorto all lined up on the back of G2 Superlative Stakes wins and Saba Desert also annexed the Newmarket contest, comfortably scoring by a length and a quarter despite showing signs of rawness.

Saba Desert made a successful introduction at Sandown Park in June, posting a three-quarter length verdict in the same maiden that Native Trail captured on his debut.

Charlie Appleby, who trains the son of Dubawi, said: “Saba Desert is two from two and has taken a similar route to a few of our horses in the past. Ground conditions are going to be more testing than he has encountered so far, although we are hopeful that he can handle it. It is a trappy race, but he goes into it in great shape and we are hoping he can make his presence felt at this level.”