Moulton paddocks-based trainer Charlie Appleby looks set to assemble a strong team for the Royal meeting next week and he put some of his stable stars through their paces at Newmarket’s July course yesterday. The likes of Native Trail, Yibir, and Prince of Wales’s Stakes favourite Adayar all took to the track and Charlie provided some valuable insight following their workouts.
Adayar - Prince of Wales's Stakes
All eyes will have been on Adayar Tuesday morning as William Buick partnered the five-year-old in a gentle piece of work. The 2021 Epsom Derby winner saw the form of his reappearance success in the Gordon Richards Stakes boosted when Anmaat went on to Group 1 glory and Charlie Appleby will be hoping the decision to keep last season's Champion Stakes runner-up in training will be rewarded at Ascot next week.
"It was a nice, pleasing piece of work. He is there now, and we didn't want to be doing anything too strong with him," Appleby explained.
"You could see his enthusiasm in dragging William to his lead horse there and he went through the line well and had his ears pricked. I think it is a great experience for these horses and we are lucky to be able to do it.
"A week out we just want them to come up and enjoy themselves.
"He goes into the Prince of Wales's as near-favourite or joint-favourite and deservedly so on what we saw at the Guineas meeting. He has come forward for that first run.
"Hopefully we can get our rewards, more so for him, for staying in training."
With the weather forecast looking unsettled going into next week the trainer added: "We all want decent ground, but the one thing he has up his sleeve is that he can handle soft ground. I wouldn't say he is better on soft ground by any stretch of the imagination, but he handles it.
"Any of these Group 1 races are hard to win. If you think you are worried about just Luxembourg or Bay Bridge, then more fool you. Whoever turns up you respect them all, but I'm just delighted with how our horse is going into the race."
Native Trail and Modern Games – Queen Anne Stakes
Charlie Appleby looks likely to be doubly represented in the Royal Ascot opener with both Irish 2000 Guineas winner Native Trail expected to line up alongside recent Lockinge hero Modern Games in the Group 1 Queen Anne Stakes next Tuesday.
"I was pleased with Native Trail's first run, and he has definitely come forward for his run at Newmarket. As you know he has had wind surgery during the winter, but I was very pleased with that this morning," said Charlie Appleby.
He added: "Like any of those older horses they take a bit of work, and you could see the improvement from that first run. He moved well today; he has always got that raspiness but that is him. It doesn't stop him. I was pleased with the way he hit the line there.
"He will head to the Queen Anne now along with Modern Games, who is back at home as he doesn't need to do any more himself.
"There is no doubt about it that it was all about Native Trail last season, but they don't know what price they are. To be fair from our own point of view we don't worry what price they are. They are two lovely horses to have around.
"One has already done it this year with Modern Games winning a Group 1 and I'm a strong believer Native Trail won't be too far behind him in getting his Group 1 this year."
Yibir – Ascot Gold Cup
2021 Breeders' Cup Turf hero Yibir will be taking a sizeable step up in trip as he enters unknown territory in the Ascot Gold Cup on Thursday but that doesn't seem to worry trainer Charlie Appleby who provided his thoughts following his gallop.
He explained: "Yibir is heading towards the Gold Cup. I'm pleased with him, and he showed plenty of enthusiasm today. He has definitely come forward for his run at Newbury.
"We know it is an extra mile on top of his normal trip, but on the back of what we have seen with the likes of Broome and those good older mile-and-a-half horses they can do that.
"Talking to the guys that have ridden in the Gold Cup they will often get the two miles; it is when you go beyond two miles that are obviously extreme distances for Flat horses.
"I would be a bit bold to say he is going to get the two and a half miles, but he has got the right run style and if it is quick ground, we know he enjoys that sounder surface.
"William will be able to ride him coming into the race and if he comes good when the bell rings then he will be there as a live player that is for sure.
"These older mile-and-a-half horses don't get any quicker and the division he is in is a tough division now and we thought going this way might just open up some doors for him going the Gold Cup distance. It is an open division, but he is fit and well and I'm pleased with the way he is going into it."
