New Energy to be aimed at St James’s Palace after fine Curragh run

Lavery colt found only Native Trail too good in Irish 2,000 Guineas.

New Energy is headed for the Royal meeting after his valiant second-placed run in the Tattersalls Irish 2,000 Guineas at the weekend.

Sheila Lavery’s New Bay colt was a 40-1 shot for the Classic contest after picking up two Listed placings this season, when third in both the Leopardstown Guineas Trial and the Tetrarch Stakes.

The market was headed by Charlie Appleby’s Native Trail, who duly triumphed at 2-5, but New Energy caught the eye when ridden to challenge a furlong from home before crossing the line a length and three-quarters behind the Godolphin-owned winner.

Royal Ascot is next on the chestnut’s calendar, with the horse likely to take up his entry in the St James’s Palace Stakes over a mile on the opening day of the showpiece meeting.

“He’s come out of the race really well and our next target will be Ascot, most probably the St James’s Palace,” said Lavery.

“We’ll enter him up for the Jersey as well, just in case, but I think that will be our next step.

“I think he deserves to run in the St James’s Palace, that’s the best way of putting it.”

New Energy was ridden by Billy Lee, who was replacing the injured Robbie Colgan, and his trainer suspected that he might improve when tested in a race run at Group One speed.

She said: “We were absolutely thrilled, we always thought he’d be better at Group One pace and he got that at the weekend. I was really thrilled with him.

“It was a beautiful ride, too. I do think Native Trail was just idling in front and if we’d have got to him he’d have just pulled out more, but we were delighted and it’s really exciting.”

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