The 47-year-old Appleby so far this year has been represented by 150 winners and 225 seconds from 478 starters-a 31 percent win rate-and his runners have earned £6,225,397. Among those victories were 18 European Group winners-three Group 1s-including a one-two finish in the G1 QIPCO 2000 Guineas with Coroebus (Dubawi [Ire]) and Native Trail (Oasis Dream {GB}), a first victory for the conditioner in the prestigious Classic.

The HWPA award completes a clean sweep of the 2022 jockeys', trainers' and owners' championships for Godolphin, who in addition to Appleby also employs jockey William Buick.

“I'm hugely proud of what myself and the team have achieved in backing the Trainers' Championship up for a second consecutive year,” Appleby said. “I'm very lucky to have the team at Moulton Paddocks and Godolphin and I'm extremely appreciative of their dedication.

“Winning the QIPCO 2000 Guineas was the highlight. It's something that personally I hadn't done before and had finished close on a few occasions. It's one of those races that I was very keen to get on the board. That was a very proud day.”

Appleby-trained runners collected three victories at Royal Ascot in the shape of Coroebus (G1 St James's Palace S.), Naval Crown (Dubawi {Ire}) (G1 Platinum Jubilee S.) and Noble Truth (Kingman {GB}) (G3 Jersey S.). He also took the leading trainer title at the Qatar Goodwood Festival and tightened the girth on three winners in this year's Breeders' Cup World Championships at Keeneland-Silver Knott (GB) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) (GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf), Mischief Magic (Ire) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}) (GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint) and Rebel's Romance (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) (GI Longines Breeders' Cup Turf).

“On behalf of all of us at Godolphin, I want to offer huge congratulations to Charlie Appleby on winning the trainers' championship for the second year in a row,” Hugh Anderson, managing director of Godolphin (UK & Dubai), said. “It's a great achievement and testament to his own skill as a trainer – the high points of this season are almost too many to mention but I would point to the three 2000 Guineas with 3 different colts and the Breeders' Cup hat-trick as being particular standouts.”

Appleby received his award on Monday night at the Royal Lancaster hotel in London.

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Hitting the front with a furlong remaining, the 6-1 shot surged clear for an impressive 5 1/2-length success from Order Of Australia (Ire) (Australia {GB}), with The Revenant (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) 3/4 of a length away in third. “She's stepped up again–fair play to Kieran, we talked about the race for about four hours as it wasn't obvious what was going to happen tactically and then I just said 'do your job' and he absolutely nailed it,” Walker said. “She's not a straightforward ride, but ever since the Sun Chariot he's got on incredibly well with her and we are reaping the rewards for that. She's an eight to nine-furlong horse and I'd love to have a go at the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf–two turns and 9 1/2 furlongs would be perfect for her.”

Dreamloper's stock began to rise markedly with a 4 1/2-length defeat of the smart Freemason Lodge representative Lights On (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}) in the G3 Valiant S. over a mile at Ascot last July and it was the drop back to seven rather than a dip in her level that was to blame for a fourth placing three weeks later in Newbury's G2 Hungerford S. Only 10th in the G1 Matron S. at Leopardstown in September, the bay began her fruitful partnership with Shoemark when third at 25-1 in the G1 Sun Chariot S. at Newmarket in October and it was at that track that she shone on her next start when coming back from the winter to annexe the nine-furlong G2 Dahlia S. at the start of May.

Her dynamic performance when taking the d'Ispahan over 9 1/4 furlongs led connections to point to a mile and a quarter for her next two starts, but her sixth in the G1 Pretty Polly S. at The Curragh June 26 and fifth in the G1 Nassau S. at Goodwood July 28 confirmed that she was being stretched too far. Granted an honest pace to run at here by the previously-unbeaten 3-year-old God Blessing (Ire) (Siyouni {Fr}), Dreamloper was in her element and when let go showed top-class miling pace to dominate. “She clearly doesn't stay ten,” Walker added. “I blamed the ground in the Pretty Polly and really fancied her for the Nassau, where she was the winner at the nine pole but ended up fifth. The gap to the Sun Chariot is perfect, but there is the ground to think about and she's been busy and had a bit of travelling, so I might just freshen her up for one last hoorah at the Breeders' Cup.”

Coroebus, who had puzzled connections with a fifth placing in the G1 Prix Jacques le Marois at Deauville, was being angled out of a pocket by William Buick in early straight as he sustained his fatal injury and was euthanized soon after.

The Revenant showed he retains much of his ability on his comeback, posting a 11.06 penultimate furlong as he gave vain chase to the dominant winner on ground as lively as he can operate on. A repeat bid in the G2 Prix Daniel Wildenstein back here on Arc weekend is the next port of call, with the G1 Queen Elizabeth II S. as usual on his agenda. “Considering that he didn't have his favorite soft ground, I am delighted with this performance after a long break,” trainer Francis-Henri Graffard said.

Pedigree Notes:

Dreamloper's dam Livia's Dream (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}), whose yearling filly by Golden Horn (GB) is catalogued in the upcoming Tattersalls October Yearling Sale Book 1, enjoyed her finest hour when capturing the 12-furlong Listed Wild Flower S. She is out of the Listed Dick Hern Fillies' S. winner Brindisi (GB) (Dr Fong), whose listed-placed half-sister La Spezia (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}) produced the G2 Doncaster Cup hero Thomas Hobson (GB) (Halling). Descended from Dick Hollingsworth's Oaks heroine Bireme (GB), the family features another heroine of that Epsom Classic in Talent (GB) (New Approach {Ire}), whose daughter Ambition (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) took the G2 Prix Corrida. Livia's Dream also has the unraced 2-year-old filly Dreamrocker (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}).

Sunday, ParisLongchamp, France
PRIX DU MOULIN DE LONGCHAMP-G1, €450,000, ParisLongchamp, 9-4, 3yo/up, 8fT, 1:36.14, g/s.
1–DREAMLOPER (IRE), 127, m, 5, by Lope De Vega (Ire)
     1st Dam: Livia's Dream (Ire) (SW-Eng), by Teofilo (Ire)
     2nd Dam: Brindisi (GB), by Dr Fong
     3rd Dam: Genoa (GB), by Zafonic
O-Jason Fill; B-Mrs Olivia Hoare (IRE); T-Ed Walker; J-Kieran Shoemark. €257,130. Lifetime Record: MGSW & G1SP-Eng, 17-6-1-3, €629,888. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Order Of Australia (Ire), 130, h, 5, Australia (GB)–Senta's Dream (GB), by Danehill. O-Derrick Smith, Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor & Mrs A M O'Brien; B-Whisperview Trading Ltd (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien. €102,870.
3–The Revenant (GB), 130, g, 7, Dubawi (Ire)–Hazel Lavery (Ire), by Excellent Art (GB). O-Al Asayl France; B-Al Asayl Bloodstock Ltd (GB); T-Francis-Henri Graffard. €51.435.
Margins: 5HF, 3/4, SNK. Odds: 6.10, 5.80, 2.80.
Also Ran: God Blessing (Ire), Lusail (Ire), Rocchigiani (GB), Goldistyle (Ire), Texas (Fr). Also Ran: (DNF): Coroebus (Ire). Scratched: Mangoustine (Fr). Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by TVG.

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What Next From Inspiral?

After Royal Ascot, most would have pointed to Cheveley Park Stud's G1 Coronation S. heroine Inspiral (GB) (Frankel {GB}) as the one to side with in a match with Coroebus who looked fortunate to have come away with the Tuesday feature. While the subsequent shock defeat of the John and Thady Gosden-trained homebred at the hands of Marc Chan and Andrew Rosen's Prosperous Voyage (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) in the G1 Falmouth S. at Newmarket July 8 has raised a question mark, the July Course is renowned for favouring front-runners when the ground is riding as fast as it was then and connections are convinced they have her in the right place for her own moment of truth. “I know she had little bit of a blip at Newmarket last time, but you have to excuse her after the long lay-off and sometimes horses can throw a bad one in,” Frankie Dettori said. “When I say bad, she was second, but she didn't run to her full potential.”

No Time To Rest

   Honours are even between the Classic generation and the older horses in the last 10 runnings, but few in the latter category could boast the type of record that State Of Rest (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) brings to the table. His quartet of top-level wins have all come over further, but the pace that he showed from the front when denying Bay Bridge (GB) (New Bay {GB}) in the G1 Prince Of Wales's S. at Royal Ascot June 15 will take him a long way reverting to a mile. His toughness is also an essential  quality and will be a prerequisite as the 3-year-olds come at him late on here. Joseph O'Brien has been intent on trying him at a mile for some time and feels this is the ideal spot. “He's a horse that's always shown plenty of speed and it will be interesting to see how he can perform at a shorter distance,” he said. “Every day he goes to the track, he turns up and he has no problem leading, like he did last time. I think it's fairly obvious he'll be ridden in an uncomplicated way, whether he's getting a lead or not. It comes either way to him.”

A Nation's Pride With Erevann

With the first two Group 1 contests of the famed August meeting going the way of the British, the odds are cramped that this prestige event will also traverse La Manche as the home nation struggles to gain any respite from the onslaught. Last Tuesday's G1 Prix Rothschild saw Goldistyle (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) grab third, but Sunday's G1 Prix Maurice de Gheest was a stark reminder of where the balance of power rests in Europe with the eighth-placed Accakaba (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) faring best of the domestic runners. It is incredible to think that the whole of France's training ranks can muster just two representatives in one of their feature events on Sunday, with both hailing from the Jean-Claude Rouget stable. Nevertheless, one is The Aga Khan's unbeaten 'TDN Rising Star' Erevann (Fr) (Dubawi {Ire}), a son of Ervedya (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) who stated his case when taking Chantilly's G3 Prix Paul de Moussac June 19. He has to find improvement from that effort, but with his pedigree it is entirely possible.

A Continuing Romance?

Charlie Appleby will be hoping that he can pull off a notable double on Sunday, with Rebel's Romance (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) taking on the German runners in Hoppegarten's G1 Westminster 132nd Grosser Preis von Berlin. A typical Godolphin raider in this country, the June 25 Listed Fred Archer S. and July 29 G3 Glorious S. winner is unbeaten on turf and all-weather and his trainer said, “We felt this was a nice opportunity to test the waters at this level and we are confident that he won't disgrace himself.” Stall Nizza's May 29 G2 Grosser Preis der Badischen Wirtschaft winner Alter Adler (Ger) (Adlerflug {Ger}) may offer the sternest threat among the older horses, while the pick of the 3-year-olds look to be Darius Racing's May 22 G2 Derby Italiano hero Ardakan (GB) (Reliable Man {GB}) and Anna Schleusner-Fruhriep's Nastaria (GB) (Outstrip {GB}), who is out just a week after her impressive success in Dresden's Listed Sommerpreis over 9 1/2 furlongs.

Click here for the fields.

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The clash of the Shadwell and Godolphin stars will be one of the highlights of the five-day Glorious Goodwood meeting, which gets underway next Tuesday.

William Haggas, who has trained Baaeed to eight straight victories, including four Group 1 wins, said on Tuesday in Newmarket at a media event organised by Goodwood Racecourse, “We are all set to go with Baaeed, hopefully. He worked this morning and, provided everything is ok over the next couple of days, we are away and will see what evolves.”

He continued: “Coroebus is obviously a high-class horse. Two of ours [My Prospero and Maljoom] finished third and fourth behind him in the St James's Palace S., not beaten far. I was not that impressed with him–and I have to be careful because he is a very smart horse–but I don't think he was at his best that day. I think Maljoom, and I don't think this is just trainer talk, would have won in another couple of strides. At the moment, there is a fair bit of distance between Baaeed and Maljoom.”

The trainer indicated that Baaeed, who has only ever raced at a mile, will step up to 10 furlongs for his next start after Goodwood.

“I don't think Baaeed has much to prove but his pedigree smacks of further,” Haggas said. “He relaxes so well, he has a great mind, and I would love to see him over further at York in Juddmonte International. I remember so vividly when Frankel won that race, it was like a piece of work for him. Anyone who was there, it made your hairs stand up because he was imperious. I hope that Baaeed would be able to travel as strongly and then be able to use his turn of foot. I am very keen to have a go.

“We are just starting to say amongst ourselves in the yard that we need to prepare for life after him–which I know sounds a bit pathetic–because he won't be around for us to enjoy next year. Finding another one is the target.”

Haggas is also likely to run Cheveley Park Stud's Sacred (GB) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}) in the G2 World Pool Lennox S.

“[It] looks the obvious race for Sacred, as she likes seven furlongs and fast ground. We are going to leave her in the Qatar Sussex S. at the owner's request, just in case the race cuts up, but seven is her best trip,” he said.

“We will run only one in the Qatar Nassau S. and it will either be Lilac Road (Ire), who wants fast ground, or My Astra (Ire), who can't have it soft enough. I suspect it will be Lilac Road, because we have had this in mind since she won the Middleton. It is her part-owner Julia Aisbitt's birthday on Nassau day, so this looks a good target.”

As well as the Lope De Vega (Ire) filly My Astra, Haggas also hopes to run Sea La Rosa (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), for the same owner, Sunderland Holdings, in the G3 Qatar Lillie Langtry S.

“She won over a mile and five furlongs at Lingfield last year, so she will stay the trip well. She is very tough and very hardy, but I can't see anything beating Free Wind if she puts up a performance similar to Haydock,” he added.

Baaeed will share top billing at Goodwood with Bjorn Nielsen's star stayer Stradivarius (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), who will have the spotlight firmly on him on the opening day of the meeting when he is set to line up for the G1 Qatar Goodwood Cup for the fifth time. He notched his first of four wins in the contest in 2017 and missed last year's race after heavy rain turned the ground against him.

His co-trainer John Gosden said: “Stradivarius is happy. He has maintained his enthusiasm for the game throughout and enjoys his training. We couldn't really be more pleased with him for a chap at this stage of his career, so we are very much looking forward to it.”

He added, “You are very lucky to have a horse or a racemare like that ever come to you, and then to enjoy their longevity and their amazing consistency at that top level. That is testament to the horse, the breeder, and to have that constitution is pretty remarkable. That is probably what has been so fulfilling and the fact he is rather like Enable was. Expressive, rather outgoing, joyous.”

Reflecting on the remarkable career of the 8-year-old, who will be ridden by Andrea Atzeni, Gosden added: “His first Goodwood Cup and his first Gold Cup would be the highlights. Winning the Goodwood Cup as a 3-year-old and then the Gold Cup as a 4-year-old. He has built on that down the years. There aren't many Flat horses who stay around like him. I always remember when Rachel and I came back from America.

“It is pretty set who the key horses are in the Goodwood Cup. We're happy at two miles or two and a half miles. Stradivarius would run a big race over a mile and a half. So, to that extent, I have been pleased with him all along and we're looking forward to it. He is quick on his feet and agile. That always helps around Goodwood. It is a downward, turning track and he probably enjoys the twists and turns of it. He probably finds it quite entertaining, like a fairground ride.”

Goodwood will also see the return of Imad Al Sagar's G1 Prix de Diane winner Nashwa (GB) (Frankel {GB}), who is set to line up for the G1 Qatar Nassau S. on the Thursday of the meeting, while Free Wind (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) is a likely starter for Saturday's G2 Qatar Lillie Langtry S.

“Nashwa has been very well since France,” said co-trainer Thady Gosden. “She ran in the Oaks and then backed up a few days later in France, which is a pretty serious testament to her. She had a pretty hard race at Epsom and ran an exceptional race. She didn't quite stay but still managed to come third. She has been a bit quiet since France as you would expect. She travelled all the way over to Chantilly and ran a huge race there, but she is coming back to herself now and seems in good shape for next week.”

He added, “It is a huge achievement for an owner-breeder to have a horse of this calibre. It is a very competitive game and a real testament to Imad Al Sagar, Blue Diamond [Stud] and all of the team for breeding a filly like her.”

Of George Strawbridge's Lillie Langtry S. contender, he said: “Free Wind didn't have the smoothest trip round at Haydock last time out, but she came out of that race in great form.

“She has won at Goodwood and is pretty versatile with regards to trip and running style. You can drop her in wherever you like. She doesn't want extremes, but she handles most ground.”

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Appleby said, “Adayar is cantering away. I took him out of the King George a few days ago because I was having to force him and I didn't want to have to do that. He's a super horse and he's been fantastic for us and from what we have seen in the last 10 days, he's a different horse.

“He's cantering away but most importantly he looks great and has got his old spark back about him. He's having a buck and kick again and I haven't seen that for six weeks or more as he's basically just been a horse. Now we are starting to see the old Adayar. I'm not going to target a race. He'll tell me when he's ready, and hopefully that will be sooner rather than later.”

The current plan is to separate 2-year-old champion and G1 Irish 2000 Guineas victor Native Trail (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) from his G1 QIPCO 2000 Guineas conqueror Coroebus (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) for their next starts. Third to Vadeni (Fr) (Churchill {Ire}) and Mishriff (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}) in last Saturday's G1 Coral-Eclipse S. at Sandown, Native Trail will be stepped down in trip from 10 furlongs.

Appleby said, “I thought Native Trail ran a solid race and he was just outstayed at that level. Two [furlongs] down, I thought William [Buick] was just having to look after him. He got 10 furlongs but he didn't run through the line at 10. He'll be competitive at that trip, but do I think we can reverse the form with the first and second? I'd be surprised.

“I'd like to come back to a mile and take him for the [G1] Prix Jacques le Marois while Coroebus will go to the Sussex S. [at Goodwood on July 27], all being well.”

Also in action last weekend was Hurricane Lane (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), the winner of the G1 Irish Derby and G1 Grand Prix de Paris before taking the G1 St Leger S. in September. The chestnut, third in the Arc, resumed with a third in the G2 Hardwicke S. at Royal Ascot, but was a puzzling eighth of nine in the G1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud on July 3.

He said, “With Hurricane Lane, unfortunately the ground was too quick. They said it was soft, we knew it wouldn't be–it was good-to-soft in the morning, but just dried out all day to good-to-firm. William [Buick] wasn't hard on him, he said he wasn't even enjoying it going to the start.

“It's unfortunate as I didn't want to run him on good-to-firm ground twice this year, but that is what has happened. Most importantly he's come out of it fine. It's very simple now, we'll wait for soft ground and when that appears hopefully you'll see Hurricane Lane at his best again.”

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Reach For the Stars

With temperatures set to soar and freedom of movement fully restored, the pinnacle of the English racing scene is back where it belongs in the public consciousness. Of course, where that is concerned the key event could actually come on Thursday with Reach For the Moon (GB) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) who is much the most likely source of The Queen's 25th Royal Ascot winner in the G3 Hampton Court S. It is fair to say that without a success in those colours the week will have a hole in it, whatever the achievements of Baaeed (GB) (Sea the Stars {Ire}), Nature Strip (Aus) (Nicconi {Aus}), Coroebus (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), Bay Bridge (GB) (New Bay {GB}) and Stradivarius (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}), so it is in the lap of the gods as to how that plays out. In the final analysis, The Queen has long proven her ability to deal with reversals and her appreciation of the week's parade of luminaries runs deep enough to counter any personal disappointments.

Paying Homage

If it is to be the perfect week, then surely there can only be one outcome to the opening G1 Queen Anne S. and that will be Baaeed's private eulogy delivered to his late owner-breeder Sheikh Hamdan. With little in the way of threatening opposition on Tuesday, the key factor will be how far the forecast 1-5 shot can put himself out of reach in the World Rankings and how much he can bridge the still-sizeable gap to Frankel's elevated level. When horses get this far in advance of their peers, they are in some ways racing their own ghosts and with normal improvement from Newbury's G1 Lockinge S. May 14 he looks to put the fear into the crop of 3-year-olds looking for a potential fight in next month's G1 Sussex S. Fittingly, Baaeed's heritage goes back to The Queen's Height of Fashion (Fr) (Bustino {GB}), the remarkable fount of such glory for Shadwell Estate following the transaction between the ruling monarch and the Maktoum family kingpin back in the 1980s.

Select Crew For Haggas

   After Baaeed there are just two other Somerville Lodge representatives on day one, but they are a potentially formidable duo in their own right in Sunderland Holding's May 19 Listed Heron S. winner My Prospero (Ire) (Iffraaj {GB}) and Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum's May 22 G2 Mehl-Mulhens-Rennen (German 2000 Guineas) winner Maljoom (Ire) (Caravaggio) in the G1 St James's Palace S. The former would be providing his owners with a breakthrough Royal Ascot winner if he can get to Godolphin's 2000 Guineas hero Coroebus and there was much to like about the way he subdued Reach For the Moon at Sandown in a race that is becoming increasingly important as a stepping stone to this prestige event. Without Parole (GB) (Frankel {GB}) took the Heron in 2018 before annexing this, while a year later King of Comedy (Ire) (Kingman {GB}) narrowly missed out on the double. He is drawn on the verges of acceptability in seven, with the last nine winners housed either in that stall or lower, whereas Maljoom has stall eight but is a habitual slow-starter so was unlikely to gain any advantage drawn towards the rail. He is a strong-finisher, however, as he proved in Cologne and it would be a huge shot in the arm for the German Classic if he is to overturn the English Guineas winner here. The form that the Haggas stable is in at present, it couldn't be written off. “They are two improving young three-year-olds and it's a very prestigious race, so they are entitled to have a shot,” their trainer said. “They've got a lot to find to beat Coroebus, but they are going the right way. Maljoom would be the faster of the pair, but My Prospero will stay well.”

The Stand-Off

Royal Ascot's metamorphosis from its rather staid past format into the up-to-date celebration of versatility it is now was helped in large part by the arrival of the sprinting megalith Choisir (Aus) back in 2003 and by the onslaught of Wesley Ward's raiders from 2009 onwards. Internationalisation really took hold of racing from the end of the last century and there is no way back from here, so it is apt that the G1 King's Stand S. boils down to an Australia-US drag race. Ward has placed Golden Pal (Uncle Mo) on a pedestal and he has been gifted a favourable high draw in 13 and a slick surface not always a guarantee at this meeting in recent times. Irad Ortiz is charged with getting the minutiae of pace-setting dead right and perhaps his best chance is if he can stay out of range of the Australian slugger Nature Strip. His is the direct line to glory and he has to not falter, as he did in York's G1 Nunthorpe S. in August. “He's a fast horse, so he's going to break like he always does and we'll just try not to go too fast early,” Ward said. “Whether it was Irad or Frankie Dettori or Lester Piggott on this horse, it's just a question of easing him back after the break and for the first three eighths you just want to go as easy as possible because whoever is going to be up there with him is going to pay the price. The thing about bringing Irad over here to ride this particular horse is he knows the horse very, very well and the horse responds well to him–they're undefeated.”

And It's No Nay Never

From the end of the last century, Royal Ascot has played regular host to some big names with dirt pedigrees and there is something in the turf that seems to sit well with the Storm Cat sire line. Through the 2001 G3 Norfolk S. winner Johannesburg, to Scat Daddy's No Nay Never, Caravaggio, Lady Aurelia, Sioux Nation and Acapulco, the meeting has come to represent something of a target for outrageously precocious juveniles with a power edge over their generation. No Nay Never's 2013 success in the Norfolk, when it was a group 2 as it is now, was won the hard way and he is a sire of precious material that Coolmore have profound belief in. At this stage of the 2022 season, he accounts for a ream of early Ballydoyle winners and Blackbeard (Ire) is front and centre as he spearheads the stable's quest for a 10th renewal of the G2 Coventry S. His 3 1/2-length dismissal of Moyglare's classy Tough Talk (Ire) (Kingman {GB}) in The Curragh's G3 Marble Hill S. May 21 is a standard-setting piece of form and with a draw in 14 he will be hard to subdue. “He is very professional and exciting in equal measure,” Ryan Moore stated on his betfair blog.

All the Right Amo

Kia Joorabchian's Amo Racing operation has been a notable fast starter with the 2-year-olds in 2022 and the Coventry sees Persian Force (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}) kick off a potentially big Royal Ascot week for the relatively new enterprise. Successful in Doncaster's Brocklesby on the first day of the flat season in Britain Mar. 26 before adding a Newbury conditions race to his tally on the Lockinge card May 14, he has had Richard Hannon in typically excitable form of late. Amo's racing manager Emily Scott is keen to take a step back from the hype now. “He goes there with a great chance. I think the horse has got to do the talking now, but it's going to be very exciting,” she said. “We do have a few chances each day this week, but he is certainly the one we're taking there with highest expectations, I would say.”

First-Crop Promise

Often one of the meeting's most intriguing contests, the Coventry provides the first real test for the leading progeny of the first-season sires who have shaped the initial juvenile scene and none have made a mark so profound as Whitsbury Manor Stud's Havana Grey (GB). His Andrew Balding-trained colt Holguin (GB) is a longshot, having been beaten convincingly by Persian Force at Newbury, but much shorter in the betting is another member of a first crop in Victorious Racing Limited's Bradsell (GB) (Tasleet {GB}). Earning TDN Rising Star status with a nine-length success in a York novice over this six-furlong trip May 21, the son of Shadwell's Nunnery Stud resident takes high rank among Archie Watson's youngbloods, while Dalham Hall Stud's Harry Angel (Ire) has Michael O'Callaghan's deeply promising May 14 Navan maiden scorer Harry Time (Ire). As far as Sioux Nation is concerned, it's safe to say that there will be stronger chances for Coolmore's aforementioned freshman than the 100-1 maiden Lakota Blue (GB) as the week goes on.

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Set For The Strip Race

Only one pound below Baaeed in the Longines-sponsored rankings on 124 is the G1 King's Stand S.-bound Nature Strip (Aus) (Nicconi {Aus}), who meets Coolmore and Westerberg's Golden Pal (Uncle Mo) in an enticing international head-to-head over five furlongs, with 16 others looking to get involved including The Queen's May 21 G2 Temple S. winner King's Lynn (GB) (Cable Bay {Ire}). He is the first to represent the monarch during the Platinum Jubilee edition, but it will take serious improvement to see him upstaging the eight-times group one winner Nature Strip who looks to bring home a first Royal prize for Australia since 2012. “Nature Strip has really matured into a foolproof horse,” trainer Chris Waller said this week. “As it has worked out with him missing the last couple of Royal Ascot meetings due to Covid, we are now bringing a horse who is winning more often than not.”

Coroebus Faces Dozen

Godolphin's Coroebus (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) has failed to scare away the opposition in Tuesday's G1 St James's Palace S., with the 2000 Guineas hero set to be taken on by 12 rivals but the draw has been kind in two and Charlie Appleby is bullish about his prospects in a renewal that is probably under-par. “His work's been more than pleasing of late and he'll be the horse they've all got to beat,” he said. “The Guineas is rock-solid form and he's the one everyone's excited to see. Going round the bend should suit him, as he's a strong traveller and it should allow him to come back behind the bridle a little bit and allow William to ride more of a race on him.” As will be the case all week, William Haggas will have a say with Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum's May 22 G2 Mehl-Mulhens-Rennen (German 2000 Guineas) winner Maljoom (Ire) (Caravaggio) and Sunderland Holding's May 19 Listed Heron S. winner My Prospero (Ire) (Iffraaj {GB}).

No Noble Style In The Coventry

While Coroebus is on target for Royal Ascot day one, Appleby's TDN Rising Star Noble Style (GB) (Kingman {GB}) will be missing from the line-up in the G2 Coventry S., it was revealed on Sunday morning. Having made a striking debut over five furlongs at the track last month, the exciting juvenile had traded as ante-post favourite for much of the intervening period but was ruled out by the trainer via the Godolphin twitter feed. “Noble Style pleased in his work yesterday, but he has since had some unsatisfactory blood results back. As a result, he will not run in the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot,” he explained. Aidan O'Brien will have two in the 17-strong line-up, with Frankie Dettori booked for TDN Rising Star Age of Kings (Ire) (Kingman {GB}) alongside Ryan Moore's already-accomplished mount Blackbeard (Ire) (No Nay Never).

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Leading the list are multiple Group/Grade 1 winners Life Is Good (Into Mischief) and Nature Strip (Aus) (Nicconi {Aus}) at 124, while Speaker's Corner (Street Sense) is next at 123. Hong Kong superstar Golden Sixty (Aus) (Medaglia d'Oro) sits at a mark of 122.

Other newcomers to the Longines World's Best Racehorse Rankings are G1 Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas) hero Geoglyph (Jpn) (Drefong) and GI Kentucky Derby winner Rich Strike (Keen Ice), both at 119.

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What had looked beforehand a vintage renewal may well turn out that way, with the only one of the “big four” out of the frame being the forwardly-ridden Point Lonsdale (Ire) (Australia {GB}) who had been interfered with by Native Trail as that rival veered right running down into the dip. Coroebus, who had so dramatically gone too early when worn down by Royal Patronage (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) in the G2 Royal Lodge S., was not for stopping this time as he showed all the benefit of a winter's strengthening. Still a physical specimen in need of time, the winner faced a deficit in terms of form figures entering this but put it all together to emerge best of a strong bunch.

As Coroebus remained trapped wide without cover for the early part of the contest, Native Trail had the same dilemma towards the stands but as expected their racing styles were in marked contrast throughout. There was no surprise to see Buick niggling some way out to engage his long-striding mount and, equally, nothing unusual in the manner Doyle was able to employ minimal encouragement to send the slick-travelling second-string forward heading to the downhill slope. Native Trail lost minor momentum there as he lugged into Point Lonsdale, but his finish was typically strong enough to win out had Coroebus fallen into a hole as he had in the Royal Lodge. Seven months on, the son of Dubawi was a more dynamic proposition at the death and that was the telling factor. Intriguingly, he becomes the latest superstar to emerge from the August Newmarket mile novice–formerly a maiden–won by Motivator (GB), Frankel (GB) and Roaring Lion.

“Ryan [Moore] joined me quite quick and so I just asked him a couple of questions going into the dip and he responded incredibly–I think had Ryan not forced my hand to go early I could have afforded to be even cheekier and he would have won even more impressively,” explained Doyle, the latest in a long line of riders to sport the old “lucky” white cap for the operation in a prestige event. “It is just amazing how hard it is to win this race. I've ridden some very good horses, including Kingman and Barney Roy–I hate to mention them, but they both fell short through no fault of their own and were victims of circumstance. It is testament to Charlie and the belief he has in us guys. For a jockey go out in a big race with a free rein to change things up is an incredible feeling.”

Interestingly, immediately after Coroebus's Autumn success on a Future Champions Day which belonged to the stable, Appleby had seemed to favour him over Native Trail. He said at the time, “It's a long way off, but I do like Coroebus. He's a supreme traveller and although you cannot fault what Native Trail has done, you've got to be able to travel in a Guineas and what Coroebus does have is a high cruising speed. You'll never take him off the bridle before the two-pole.” Reflecting on Saturday's performance, he said, “I could see James was travelling for fun and that's what this horse does–they can't go quick enough for him. He's a seven-furlong horse who could potentially get a bit further than a mile in time, I think.”

“I'd like to think I know the Dubawis by now,” Appleby added. “We've had enough of them through our hands and he's shown us all the right signs. This horse has always shown, like any good horse, natural pace and when they have that natural pace in the physique he has you can't do anything apart from get excited about it. He gained a lot of confidence in the Autumn Stakes and you have to just keep filling him up as he has an electric turn of foot. Dare I say it, he'll progress throughout the season and I think we'll potentially try to keep them apart.”

“It would be a shame for them to keep butting heads with one another and on the evidence of what we've seen today they are the best two 3-year-old colts around to date,” their trainer concluded. “We can probably say Native Trail will go to Ireland for the Irish 2000 Guineas where we have seen him be impressive before and Coroebus can go straight to the St James's Palace. Native Trail has gone down on his sword, but to be fair to him he's not actually built like a Newmarket runner and his class gets him through it. He's built to meet a nice rising track and Ascot would suit him perfectly. He's been beaten by an exceptional horse and is still a class animal.”

Already replete with Derby prospects, Aidan O'Brien can approach the Epsom Classic with even greater bullishness after Luxembourg put in a perfect preparatory effort. There were shades of Australia (GB), who also filled the third spot in 2014, in his performance as he stayed on to chase the pacier duo up ahead. “We knew he was a middle-distance horse and we were happy with where he was coming into this, so we were delighted with that run,” he said. “Everything went perfect over the winter and Ryan was delighted, he said he just stepped half a length slow out of the stalls and it just lost him a length or two but he was full of praise and Ryan did everything perfect. Point Lonsdale might not have been as forward as the other horse, so we hope there's going to be more to come from him. He's a horse that's going to be happy stepping up to a mile and a quarter and a mile and a half as well.”

Coroebus is the second foal out of the G3 Oh So Sharp S. scorer First Victory (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}), who is one of five black-type winners out of the leading producer Eastern Joy (GB) (Dubai Destination). They include the four-times group 1 and grade I-winning Godolphin flagbearer Thunder Snow (Ire) (Helmet {Aus}), who was versatile enough to win a Dubai World Cup, the G2 May Hill S. winner and G1 1000 Guineas-placed Ihtimal (Ire) (Shamardal) and Always Smile (Ire) (Cape Cross {Ire}) who was runner-up in the G1 Sun Chariot S. and third in the G1 Falmouth S. The third dam is the G2 Sun Chariot S. winner Red Slippers (Nureyev), a full-sister to the G2 Jockey Club S. winner and G1 Epsom Derby-placed Romanov (Ire) and a half to the G1 Irish Derby and G1 Epsom Oaks heroine Balanchine (Storm Bird) who was responsible for the G1 Prix de Diane heroine West Wind (GB) (Machiavellian). Also connected to the G1 Irish Derby hero Sovereign (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), First Victory's 2-year-old colt by Shamardal is named Pherenikos (Ire).

Saturday, Newmarket, Britain
QIPCO 2000 GUINEAS S.-G1, £500,000, Newmarket, 4-30, 3yo, 8fT, 1:36.27, gd.
1–COROEBUS (IRE), 126, c, 3, by Dubawi (Ire)
     1st Dam: First Victory (Ire) (GSW-Eng), by Teofilo (Ire)
     2nd Dam: Eastern Joy (GB), by Dubai Destination
     3rd Dam: Red Slippers, by Nureyev
1ST GROUP 1 WIN. O/B-Godolphin (IRE); T-Charlie Appleby; J-James Doyle. £283,550. Lifetime Record: 4-3-1-0, $439,852. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Native Trail (GB), 126, c, 3, Oasis Dream (GB)–Needleleaf (GB), by Observatory. (€50,000 Wlg '19 ARQDE; 67,000gns Ylg '20 TATOCT; 210,000gns 2yo '21 TATBRE). O-Godolphin; B-Le Haras d'Haspel (GB); T-Charlie Appleby. £107,500.
3–Luxembourg (Ire), 126, c, 3, Camelot (GB)–Attire (Ire), by Danehill Dancer (Ire). (150,000gns Ylg '20 TATOCT). O-Westerberg,Mrs J Magnier,M Tabor,D Smith; B-B V Sangster (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien. £53,800.
Margins: 3/4, 1HF, 2. Odds: 5.00, 1.25, 4.50.
Also Ran: Eydon (Ire), Berkshire Shadow (GB), Lusail (Ire), Perfect Power (Ire), Royal Patronage (Fr), Light Infantry (Fr), Point Lonsdale (Ire), The Wizard of Eye (Ire), Tacarib Bay (GB), Boundless Ocean (Ire), Checkandchallenge (GB), Dubawi Legend (Ire). Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

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Simon Rowlands, in his excellent “Sectional Spotlight” feature on attheraces.com, is clear as to the hot favourite's advantage over his peers. “What sets him apart most is [a] giant stride, of a magnitude usually seen only in champions,” he stated in his most recent piece, having measured it at “a peak of 27.3 feet when 24.5 feet is the global average for flat horses”. He calls this “monster territory” and that is what the other 14 Guineas pretenders are up against.

Leading The Chase

OK, so what gets near the huge-striding royal blue colossus? Maybe Ballydoyle's G1 Vertem Futurity Trophy winner Luxembourg (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), who with his similarly unbeaten tag is at least a worthy opponent. His electric finishing surge in a weak-looking renewal of the G2 Beresford S. provoked memories of the race's recent winners Sea the Stars (Ire), St Nicholas Abbey (Ire) and Saxon Warrior (Jpn) and he is undoubtedly the chief threat to Native Trail. Aidan O'Brien has taken on clear division-leaders Xaar (GB), Dubawi (Ire) and New Approach (Ire) in the past and managed to subdue them in this, so he knows more than most what it takes to down champions not hailing from the Rosegreen pantheon. There is every chance Luxembourg is a rare talent. Professional but not scintillating at Doncaster, he gave us a glimpse of his material in the Beresford where it was notable how old hand Seamie Heffernan reacted. Not renowned for his tendency to hype, he was abuzz in the winner's spot on that occasion.

According To Ryan

Another who errs on the side of caution when in analysis, Ryan Moore's unspoken gestures are often the ones to focus on and it is surely the case that almost nobody expected him to side with Point Lonsdale (Ire) (Australia {GB}) over Luxembourg. Famously a man of few words, his Betfair blog can be read as a subtle warning. “We expect him to make his presence felt,” he said of the Westerberg flag-bearer as he prepares to halt Team Godolphin's momentum. Interestingly, he had insight to offer on the speed aspect of the race, Perfect Power (Ire) (Ardad {Ire}). “I think the faster 2-year-olds were some way inferior to their staying counterparts,” he states.

The Coroebus Dilemma

Godolphin's burgeoning talent Coroebus (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) is here very much on merit, but seems to be viewed as a longer-term prospect in the shadow of Native Trail and this education will not be lost on him. If he had one major weakness at two it was his painful honesty, seen most tellingly as he ripped off passing halfway in the G2 Royal Lodge S. before being eventually dragged back by Royal Patronage (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}). Held on to for longer over the same course and distance in the G3 Autumn S., the bay who bears a resemblance to his sire has significant ground to make up on Native Trail on every score and it will be James Doyle's task to play the waiting game drawn as far away from his stablemate as is possible.

Winter Bloomers

Few would have predicted that Eydon (Ire) (Olden Times {GB}) and Checkandchallenge (GB) (Fast Company {Ire})–from contrasting ends of the ownership and training spectrum in Prince Faisal and Roger Varian and Andrew Hetherton and William Knight respectively–would be live Guineas outsiders when making their all-weather debuts in the colder months. The former was beaten in a Newcastle novice Feb. 19 before taking a huge leap forward in the nine-furlong Listed Feilden S. at Newmarket, while the race's fairytale horse Checkandchallenge was all style in Newcastle's Listed Burradon S. David Egan rates Eydon, whose state of wellbeing has forced connections' hands into putting him in this picture. “We went a slow pace in the Feilden, he had to show a lot of speed to get into the race and he did everything with ease.”

Click here for the group fields.

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