Native Trail storms home in the Dewhurst

Oasis Dream colt Native Trail maintained his unbeaten run with dominant victory in the Gr.1 Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket on Saturday.

Taken from the Racing Post, 10th October 2021, by Lewis Porteous:

A standout before the Dewhurst Stakes and a standout after it, Native Trail heads into winter hibernation at the head of the 2,000 Guineas market after doubling his Group 1 tally to two and extending his unbeaten record to four with a clinical display under William Buick.

Trainer Charlie Appleby has on numerous occasions described the son of Oasis Dream as a "man among boys" and he was impossible to miss as he towered above his peers in the pre-race parade.

It was harder to spot him during the race as he was smuggled away in midfield early on but once Buick manoeuvred him off the rail and into daylight he stamped his class all over his seven rivals, quickening clear for a two-length success over the positively ridden Dubawi Legend, with Champagne Stakes scorer Bayside Boy a further half a length away in third.

"It was one of those occasions that as they were walking around the paddock I was gaining more confidence," said Appleby. "I just thought he was the standout and I think we've got a fantastic horse on our hands for next year's Guineas.

"He's 540 kilos and came in at that weight from the breeze-ups. He warms into the race and does it all the right way round. We saw that again today and I was confident that once William gave him the office he would pick up well.

"Once he met the rising ground the one thing this horse wasn't going to do was stop galloping. It was very similar to his win in the National Stakes and his acceleration, when he's really given the office, is quite remarkable."