Excitement mounts as Adayar gears up for Royal Ascot debut
Adayar – The Main Attraction
In preparation for the upcoming Royal Ascot, trainer Charlie Appleby took some of his stable stars to Newmarket’s July course. Among them was Prince of Wales’s Stakes favourite, Adayar, who comfortably beat subsequent Group One winner Anmaat in the Gordon Richards Stakes on his comeback this season.
During a gentle piece of work at Newmarket’s July course ahead of next week’s event, jockey William Buick partnered with Adayar as he showcased his enthusiasm by dragging Buick towards his lead horse and going through the line well with ears pricked.
Second in the Champion Stakes last season, Appleby hopes that keeping 2021 Derby winner in training at five will reward him with a Group One win over 10 furlongs. “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,” said Appleby.
Native Trail and Modern Games Fielded for Queen Anne Stakes
In addition to Adayar, two other horses from Charlie Appleby’s stables are set to compete in opening Queen Anne stakes: Lockinge winner Modern Games and last year’s Irish Guineas hero Native Trail.
“I was pleased with Native Trail’s first run and he has definitely come forward for his run at Newmarket,” said proud coach Mr. Applebly. “Like any 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.” “There is no doubt about it that it was all about Native Trail last season,” Appleby added. “One has already done it this year with Modern Games winning a Group One and I’m a strong believer Native Trail won’t be too far behind him in getting his Group One this year.”
Yibir – Stepping Up for Gold Cup
Another one of Charlie Appleby’s horses, Breeders’ Cup Turf winner Yibir, went through his paces during the event as he prepares to step up markedly in trip for the Gold Cup.
“We know it is an extra mile on top of his normal trip,” said Appleby. “But on the back of what we have seen with likes of Broome and those good older mile-and-a-half horses they can do that.”