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Charlie Appleby hails historic Native Trail win and hints at St James's Palace Stakes

Native Trail secured Charlie Appleby and Godolphin an unprecedented clean sweep of the English, French and Irish 2,000 Guineas with three different colts when winning at the Curragh on Saturday.

The 2-5 favourite, returning to the scene of his Group 1 National Stakes last season, had to work hard for the victory given that he lacked racing room early on when held up in a pocket with Ryan Moore on Ivy League.
William Buick was able to eventually find the gap to deny New Energy's hopes of a boil-over at 40-1 and claim victory by a length and three-quarters, with the Andrew Balding-trained Imperial Fighter another three-parts of a length back in third under Ben Coen.

Appleby said he was relieved rain did not ruin Native Trail's chances of Irish 2,000 Guineas glory and acknowledged the significance of a history-making success.

Reflecting on the achievement of winning the 2,000 Guineas with Coroebus, the Poule d'Essai Des Poulains with Modern Games and victory at the Curragh with Native Trail, Appleby told reporters: "To do what's been done is just a huge achievement for His Highness [Sheikh Mohammed] and especially the team at home.
"I'm just glad to have been a part of it. I knew coming into today what we were trying to achieve and this horse has done it."
As for his future plans for the three Guineas winners, particularly with Ascot in mind, he added: "There are discussions to be had about the St James's Palace [at Royal Ascot on June 14].
"It is the last race where three-year-olds can take each other on at that level over a mile.
"You always like to see the best take each other on whatever the sport and you never know."
READ MORE: King's Lynn set sights on Royal Ascot after storming to victory in Temple Stakes

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