'I took a chance breezing him' - Oak Tree Farm's Williamson's Native thrill

The Tattersalls Craven Breeze-Up Sale continues to bask in the glory of Native Trail, who maintained his faultless record by adding the Dewhurst Stakes to his emphatic success in the National Stakes last month.

The son of Oasis Dream does not look a typical breeze-up horse, being a sizeable, scopey beast who already has the frame of a three-year-old - trainer Charlie Appleby said he came from the breeze-ups as a 540kg colt - but he has come a long way from being a 210,000gns purchase by Godolphin to a dual juvenile Group 1 winner and now likely European champion two-year-old.

Oak Tree Farm's Norman Williamson, a former star of the National Hunt weighing room who offered the colt at Park Paddocks back in April, believes there is plenty more to come from Native Trail after a winter's break.

Williamson, who has also consigned dual American Grade 1 winner War Of Will and two-time Australian Group 1 winner Contributer, said: "I’ve been in contact with Charlie a lot, I believed he could definitely be a miler, he could get a mile and two - he races behind the bridle and is only getting going, so it’s a great sign."

Norman Williamson sold Native Trail to Godolphin at the Craven Breeze-Up SaleCredit: Debbie Burt

On what makes Native Trail such a special talent, Williamson was quick to attribute his ebullient character as well as his already physically mature frame.

Williamson, speaking to ITV Racing, continued: "He doesn’t get tired, he’s a bit of a playboy and he’s got a huge amount of ability. I said to Mags O’Toole here, he hasn't changed a lot from a yearling. He had a huge big backside on him, I took a chance on breezing him as I thought he might not need time and he didn’t."

On the types of horses he and wife Janet are preparing for the breeze-ups, he added: "The biggest thing about this is we’re stepping up to the plate buying better-bred horses and have proved they can step up to being proper mile, mile-and-a-quarter horses.

"I don’t want to knock all the yearling vendors who are selling next week, but it's a good day for everyone."

Native Trail's dam, the unraced Observatory mare Needleleaf, was sold by Juddmonte for 60,000gns to MAB Agency at the Tattersalls December Mare Sale in 2015.

She is a full-sister to Haydock Sprint Cup heroine African Rose, the dam of Fair Eva, and juvenile Group 3 scorer Helleborine, who has produced Coventry Stakes winner Calyx.

Godolphin and Appleby's excellent afternoon was given further lustre with the successes of Dubawi homebreds Goldspur and Coroebus in the Godolphin Flying Start Zetland Stakes and Emirates Autumn Stakes respectively.

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