Native Trail is the second foal and the first runner and winner out of the unraced Needleleaf (Observatory), a full sister to African Rose, winner of the Gr.1 Haydock Sprint Cup, and to Helleborine, winner of the Gr.3 Prix d'Aumale and runner-up in the Gr.1 Prix Marcel Boussac.

Second dam New Orchid (Quest For Fame) was third in the Lancashire Oaks, then a Group 3. Her daughter Helleborine produced Calyx (Kingman), winner of the Gr.2 Coventry Stakes and now a sire, while African Rose is the dam of Fair Eva (Frankel), winner of the Gr.3 Princess Margaret Stakes.

Third dam Musicanti (Nijinsky II) produced Distant Music (Distant View), winner of the Gr.1 Dewhurst in 1999 and later a sire. Musicanti won in France and is the grandam of Canticum (Cacique), winner of the Gr.2 Prix Chaudenay. She is a relative of the champion Vanlandingham (Cox's Ridge), winner of the Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup, the Grade 1 Washington D.C. International and the Suburban Handicap, then a Grade 1, and of the dams of Kirkwall (Selkirk), a sire who won the Keeneland Turf Mile, then a Grade 2, and the Gr.2 Prix Eugene Adam, and Funny Moon (Malibu Moon), winner of the Grade 1 American Oaks.

This is also the family of Temperence Hill, winner of the Grade 1 Belmont Stakes and later a sire.

Needleleaf has a 2-year-old filly by Kingman, Tranquil Rose, and a yearling filly by Siyouni.