Native Trail crowned European Champion Two-Year-Old

Native Trail’s outstanding juvenile campaign has been recognised by European handicappers, who have crowned the unbeaten colt as Europe’s Champion Two-Year-Old of 2021.

Trained by Charlie Appleby and ridden by William Buick on all four starts, Native Trail made an impressive debut at Sandown Park in June before taking the G2 Superlative Stakes at Newmarket’s July Festival.

The son of Oasis Dream graduated to G1 honours with dominant displays in the Vincent O’Brien National Stakes at the Curragh and the Darley Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket – the same double recorded by the brilliant 2019 Champion Two-Year-Old Pinatubo.

Native Trail was awarded a rating of 122 for his victory in Ireland, a mark that sees the Godolphin colt rated 7lbs ahead of his nearest rivals in the classifications. Only Pinatubo, who was 10lbs clear, has achieved a higher level of dominance over his peers.

British Horseracing Authority handicapper Graeme Smith said: “Native Trail is a worthy Champion, having been one of the star performers of an incredible year for his stable. His performance in the National Stakes was very impressive and in following up with victory in the Dewhurst Stakes, he confirmed himself a colt of high quality.”

A total of six Godolphin juveniles, all trained by Charlie Appleby, ended 2021 with a rating in excess of 110 including Coroebus, who was joint-second best in the rankings on 115 following a decisive win in the G3 Emirates Autumn Stakes.

G1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf hero Modern Games (114) and G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere runner-up Noble Truth (113) also featured highly among a superb crop of two-year-olds for the royal blue silks alongside Canadian G1 winners Albahr (111) and Wild Beauty (111).