Appleby holds the cards with Coroebus and Native Trail entered in the QEII

Coroebus and Native Trail head a strong entry for Charlie Appleby and Godolphin in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (Sponsored by QIPCO), in which last year’s winner Baaeed would only be likely to return if he failed to stay the extended mile and a quarter of the Juddmonte International.

The race has attracted a strong international field which also includes the runaway Irish 1000 Guineas winner Homeless Songs, impressive Coronation Stakes winner Inspiral, and high-class entries from France and Germany.

However, either Coroebus, who followed an impressive win in the QIPCO 2000 Guineas by landing the St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot, or last year’s top juvenile Native Trail, who won the Irish 2000 Guineas before finishing third in the Coral-Eclipse, would have to be high on anyone’s shortlist.

Immediate plans for the pair were upset when Coroebus missed last week’s Qatar Sussex Stakes with an abscess, but QIPCO British Champions Day, at which Native Trail also holds a QIPCO Champion Stakes engagement, was always on their agenda. Plans for Appleby’s Qatar Sussex Stakes runner-up Modern Games are focussed on the Breeders’ Cup, although he has an entry too.

Appleby said: “With Coroebus missing the Sussex Stakes the plan is for him to go to the Jacques Le Marois, which was going to be Native Trail’s race. We’ll make a decision nearer the time – the team might want to run them both – but I see no reason why Native Trail couldn’t run in the Juddmonte.

“Native Trail didn’t not stay in the Eclipse. He was outstayed by good horses who will probably go on and do well at a mile and a half. He is in great order – he’s walking around on two legs! He’s entered in both the Mile and the QIPCO Champion Stakes.”

Inspiral will be hoping to recapture Ascot blitz

Last year’s top two-year-old filly Inspiral ran below form when beaten by Prosperous Voyage, who is also entered here, in last month’s Tattersalls Falmouth Stakes at Newmarket. However, her near five-length defeat of previously unbeaten American filly Spendarella at Royal Ascot would put her right in the mix for a stable which has won two of the last five runnings, with Persuasive and Roaring Lion.

Thady Gosden said: “Inspiral is our main one for the QEII. Newmarket just came too soon for her after Ascot, which was her first run in a year, but she’s been very well in herself since and she’s obviously a filly with plenty of talent and worth her place in any of the top mile races. She’ll go in one of the other top mile races first probably, and that’s to be discussed still with Cheveley Park.”

Saeed Bin Suroor has entered the classy Real World. The five-year-old’s only turf defeats have been at the hands of Baaeed, when second in the Lockinge and the Queen Anne Stakes, but he is also being considered for an Australian campaign.

Francis Graffard’s autumn specialist The Revenant, who won the race two years ago and was in the frame in both 2019 and 2021, is among fourentries from France, while last week’s Goodwood Group 3 winner Rocchigiani is a possible German runner.