Godolphin’s 2000 Guineas history-makers ready to step up again

Coroebus, Modern Games and Native Trail, who combined to give Moulton Paddocks the historic achievement of winning three European versions of the 2,000 Guineas with three different colts, are taking aim at even bigger targets in coming weeks.

Trainer Charlie Appleby gave upbeat reports today about the trio, who are set take on the best at Longchamp, Royal Ascot and possibly Sandown Park at their next outings.

“It has been a fantastic achievement by the entire team at Godolphin, and by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed,” Appleby said.

“Winning those three Guineas in the same year with two home-breds and one purchased from the sales ring is incredible and brings credit on all concerned, the studs, the sales team and everybody at Godolphin,” he added.

While Coroebus continues to do well since his brilliant win in the G1 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket and heads to the G1 St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot, and Modern Games is thriving in the build-up to the G1 Prix du Jockey-Club at Chantilly on Sunday 5 June, plans for Native Trail have yet to be confirmed.

“I expect all three to improve again on what they did in their Guineas wins, and in Native Trail’s case, hopefully that improvement will come in stepping him up in trip. He’s in the St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot, but obviously we have Coroebus there as well,” the trainer explained.

“Native Trail has already had three runs under his belt this season — in the Craven, then the Guineas at both Newmarket and the Curragh — so he deserves to have a bit of a break now, and in doing so, we will look more strongly towards the G1 Coral-Eclipse at Sandown.

“We know the Eclipse is a great race for three-year-olds. They have a great weight ‘pull’ and I would like to see him stepping up to 10 furlongs. Sandown is a stiff 10 furlongs, admittedly, but it is not an end-to-end gallop.

“Sometimes at Sandown, the gallop can be easier early doors and they can build into it. Native Trail is a class horse and I feel the way his running style goes, we are keen to venture there (to a mile and a quarter),” Appleby said.