Appleby Full of Confidence in Native Trail for Dewhurst

Native Trail  bids to emulate a Godolphin-owned pair of Dewhurst Stakes (G1) stars and cap his brilliant 2-year-old season by maintaining his unbeaten record in Europe's premier juvenile race Oct. 9, with his trainer Charlie Appleby certain he is the one to beat.

The son of Oasis Dream  has not put a foot wrong in three outings, which started with an impressive four-length romp on his debut over subsequent Tattersalls Acomb (G3) and Juddmonte Royal Lodge Stakes (G2) winner Royal Patronage  at Sandown in June, before he narrowly prevailed on his first start in group company when successful in the Bet365 Superlative Stakes (G2) on the July course a month later.

He then followed in the footsteps of some of Appleby's top 2-year-olds when sent over to Ireland for the Goffs Vincent O'Brien National Stakes (G1) at the Curragh and duly delivered with the most striking juvenile performance of the season, dispatching of Chesham and Galileo Irish E.B.F. Futurity Stakes (G2) winner Point Lonsdale  in brutal fashion by 3 1/2 lengths.

Native Trail takes the next logical step on the ladder as he attempts to give Appleby another National-Dewhurst Stakes double following Pinatubo in 2019.

Appleby said: "Native Trail has been faultless to date and we feel he's improving mentally with each race. As a physical specimen, we've always felt he was a man among boys and he has sharpened up mentally again since the National Stakes. On all evidence to date, he looks the one to beat."

Should Native Trail win it would be a third Dewhurst success for Godolphin, who also took the 2012 running with Dawn Approach as well as with Pinatubo, and solidify his claims to follow them by becoming the leading juvenile of the year.

'He'll Be Very Competitive' 

David Egan is wary of the challenge faced by his mount Bayside Boy  as he aims to topple hot favorite Native Trail, but the jockey is hopeful the Champagne Stakes (G2) winner can take the step up to the top level in his stride.

Egan, bidding for a second British group 1 after Mishriff 's Juddmonte International (G1) at York, partnered the Roger Varian-trained son of New Bay  for the first time at Newbury in August when turned over at short odds in a listed contest.

However, the duo came out on top next time when denying the Queen's highly regarded Reach For The Moon  in the Champagne at Doncaster and Egan is hopeful his mount can put up a bold display and give Varian a second Dewhurst win following Belardo's success in 2014.

Egan said: "Obviously we've got Native Trail to beat but he deserves to take his chance. If he's improved from his win at Doncaster as much as he improved from Newbury before, he'll be very competitive. He has a decent draw in stall 7 and we should get a nice pace to aim at."

Palmer Pleased With Ground for Legend

Dubawi Legend  has plenty to find on official ratings to be competitive with the leading contenders but trainer Hugo Palmer is hopeful the forecast drying conditions will help him.

The son of Dubawi  is rated 25 pounds inferior to Native Trail and 15 pounds behind Bayside Boy but the form of his third in the Acomb Stakes has worked out to a high standard.

The winner, Royal Patronage, followed up in the Royal Lodge Stakes and fourth-placed Noble Truth  landed a listed race at Doncaster before finishing runner-up in the Qatar Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere Grand Criterium (G1) at Longchamp last weekend.

Palmer said: "I'm really happy with him. We've always liked him and I think he's a horse for next year. He missed the Champagne Stakes last month but we've been happy with him since. The drying ground will be to his advantage."