Emotionless showed he is on course for the Qipco 2000 Guineas when pleasing connections in a racecourse gallop on the Rowley Mile at Newmarket before racing on Wednesday.
The Godolphin-owned colt was partnered by William Buick in the workout over seven furlongs with Bow And Arrow, partnered by James Doyle, and the Martin Lane-ridden Golden Heritage.
Emotionless was last of the three before squeezing through the pair just inside the final furlong and getting up by a length from Bow And Arrow after being pressed quite sternly by Buick.
It was a pleasant return to the racecourse for Emotionless as he chipped a bone in his knee when last of seven in the Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket in October won by Air Force Blue.
He had won his two previous races, a Newmarket maiden and the Champagne Stakes at Doncaster, in the manner of an exciting prospect.
Appleby said: "I was very pleased. Firstly I was just pleased with the way of his pre-race gallop. He got warm up here as a two-year-old before galloping down in the Dewhurst.
"I was just delighted to see his demeanour beforehand, he was nice and relaxed. He has wintered well and matured well.
"He has gone down to post nice and relaxed and William Buick was very happy with him. He's done a nice piece of build up work on that ground which the boys said was a bit tacky.
"What I liked about today is that we got out of it what we wanted to get out of it. We were not trying to win by 20 lengths and become a short price favourite for the Guineas, we came here for the horse's benefit and to take something out of the exercise.
"On all evidence we can't ask for any more than that and that should put him spot on for the Guineas now.
"The experience will have done him well as it was good to keep the gap tight as we didn't want it opening up.
"He came through them and James Doyle and Martin Lane rode a lovely piece of work which allowed him to squeeze through
"He will come on for that and William feels he is exactly where he needs to be at the present time.
"Myself, John Ferguson (Godolphin chief executive and racing manager) and his Highness (Sheikh Mohammed) spoke before Christmas and with his injury we didn't want to make a plan to go for a trial and for it not to materialise.
"It was always the plan to work back from the Guineas.
"He has filled out in all the right places and more importantly he has matured the right way."
Coral left Emotionless unchanged following the work at 10-1 for the first colts' Classic.
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