Coroebus bests stablemate Native Trail to win 2000 Guineas

Godolphin and trainer Charlie Appleby for months had been expected to win the 2000 Guineas on Saturday at Newmarket Racecourse in England. They did – just not with the horse presumed to be their best chance.

Guineas favorite Native Trail turned in a good enough performance Saturday – just not good enough to beat his stablemate, Coroebus, who simply had a better turn of foot than Native Trail and won the Guineas by three-quarters of a length.

It was a fourth Guineas win for Godolphin (following Mark Of Esteem in 1996, Island Sands in 1999, and Dawn Approach in 2013) but a first for Appleby, who has trained two Derby winners, Masar and Adayar, for his sole client.

Top Godolphin jockey William Buick rode Native Trail, unbeaten in five starts and winner of the Group 1 Dewhurst Stakes last fall, while it was James Doyle on Coroebus ($14), unraced since winning the Autumn Stakes on Oct. 9 over a straight mile at Newmarket, same as the Guineas. Native Trail had been given a Guineas prep, winning the Craven at Newmarket, but in the end, he was unable to match Coroebus’s acceleration as the Guineas field dashed for the wire.

Native Trail, coming from well off the pace, rallied on the stand’s side while Coroebus and Doyle, also near the back of the pack, raced on the far side of the course. Coroebus loomed into contention with a quarter-mile to race, split horses gamely at the furlong grounds, and drove clear for his first Group 1.

“My only worry was getting left without any cover, but after half a furlong, I was pretty happy,” Doyle said. “He warmed into the race so easily. My God, he's got potential. The turn of foot he showed there was incredible."

A homebred, Coroebus is by Dubawi out of First Victory, by Teofilo. Whether he can stay the 1 1/2 miles of the Derby is uncertain, but connections could give him a chance. Luxembourg raced well to nab third in the 15-horse field for trainer Aidan O’Brian and jockey Ryan Moore and remains among the market leaders for the Derby.

Eydon, starting here after a 1 1/4-mile maiden win, ran well in defeat and also could prove a Derby contender. The talented Perfect Power faded to seventh in his first start beyond seven furlongs, likely confirming that he’s best over sprint distances.