Docklands and Sea King preparing for quarantine before big-race targets.
" We’ve just got to mind him now and keep him happy and healthy before the race. Moonee Valley is a tough course, but Docklands has always been a strong-travelling horse. If you can travel around tracks like that, you can handle it, so we’re hopeful it won’t be a problem,” said Eustace.
Sea King: Poised for Melbourne Cup Qualifiers
Joining Docklands on the journey to Australia is Sea King, a relatively new recruit to Eustace’s yard but one with plenty of potential. Previously trained by the legendary Sir Mark Prescott, Sea King made a strong impression when finishing a staying-on sixth in the Ebor at York. That run showed the five-time scorer’s stamina, and Eustace believes he will thrive in Australia’s staying contests.
“It was an encouraging run from him in the Ebor,” Eustace reflected. “He was keeping on all the time, and I think he galloped out well to the line. Being a good, strong stayer will make him competitive down under.”
Sea King is fit and ready, and Eustace is eyeing either the Geelong Cup or the Werribee Cup, both win-and-you're-in events for the Melbourne Cup. The Melbourne Cup is the pinnacle of staying races in the world, and while Sea King has been bought to stay in Australia long-term, the Werribee Cup or Geelong Cup could offer him a coveted ticket to this prestigious race.
Eustace added, “We’re just keeping him ticking over now. He’ll run in one of those races, and that will dictate where he ends up.”
Harry Eustace, a trainer on the rise, is gearing up for a high-stakes international campaign, plotting bold moves for two of his talented charges, Docklands and Sea King, on the Australian racing scene. With Docklands set for the prestigious Cox Plate and Sea King aiming for a win-and-you're-in slot in the Melbourne Cup, the stakes have never been higher. Meanwhile, closer to home, Divine Comedy will soon be making her mark in the Irish Cesarewitch. Eustace’s meticulous preparation reflects his ambition and eye for the biggest prizes on both sides of the globe.
Docklands: Aiming for Cox Plate Glory
Docklands, who stormed into the international spotlight with his victory in last year's Britannia Stakes at Royal Ascot, is headed Down Under for the Cox Plate. Owned by Australian-based syndication company OTI Racing, the four-year-old gelding has always had his sights set on the Southern Hemisphere. His recent performances in top-level contests have solidified his status as a horse to watch, with notable runs this season, including chasing down Charyn in the Queen Anne Stakes.
Eustace, who knows the weight of expectation on his shoulders, is carefully guiding Docklands through his final preparations. “Docklands is heading to Australia in a week's time, where he'll go into quarantine in preparation for his run in the Cox Plate,” Eustace told Grosvenor Sport. The race, set for October 26 at the challenging Moonee Valley track, is Australia’s most prestigious weight-for-age contest, and Eustace has high hopes for his charge.
What a start to Royal @Ascot! Charyn wins the Queen Anne Stakes! pic.twitter.com/CYVwtR8tm6
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) June 18, 2024
“We’ve just got to mind him now and keep him happy and healthy before the race. Moonee Valley is a tough course, but Docklands has always been a strong-travelling horse. If you can travel around tracks like that, you can handle it, so we’re hopeful it won’t be a problem,” said Eustace.
Sea King: Poised for Melbourne Cup Qualifiers
Joining Docklands on the journey to Australia is Sea King, a relatively new recruit to Eustace’s yard but one with plenty of potential. Previously trained by the legendary Sir Mark Prescott, Sea King made a strong impression when finishing a staying-on sixth in the Ebor at York. That run showed the five-time scorer’s stamina, and Eustace believes he will thrive in Australia’s staying contests.
“It was an encouraging run from him in the Ebor,” Eustace reflected. “He was keeping on all the time, and I think he galloped out well to the line. Being a good, strong stayer will make him competitive down under.”
Sea King is fit and ready, and Eustace is eyeing either the Geelong Cup or the Werribee Cup, both win-and-you're-in events for the Melbourne Cup. The Melbourne Cup is the pinnacle of staying races in the world, and while Sea King has been bought to stay in Australia long-term, the Werribee Cup or Geelong Cup could offer him a coveted ticket to this prestigious race.
Eustace added, “We’re just keeping him ticking over now. He’ll run in one of those races, and that will dictate where he ends up.”
Divine Comedy Targets Irish Cesarewitch
Meanwhile, back on home turf, Divine Comedy, who was the runner-up in the Ascot Stakes, is set for a much shorter journey—but no less competitive—when she lines up for the Irish Cesarewitch. Eustace has decided to send her to Ireland instead of competing in the Newmarket version, pointing out that the Irish race offers a more substantial prize purse and better conditions for the mare.
“The plan is very much to go to the Irish Cesarewitch with Divine Comedy, rather than the Newmarket version, at the moment,” Eustace explained. “It's worth a lot more, and I think the track and hopefully the going will suit.”
The mare has shown her ability to handle softer ground, and Eustace is confident that the conditions in Ireland will play to her strengths. “She loves soft ground, and she stayed two miles and four furlongs well at Ascot on better ground. I think two miles and two furlongs on softer ground should be ideal conditions for her.”
Although Divine Comedy hasn’t had her preferred conditions since winning at Haydock earlier in the year, Eustace is optimistic that her upcoming run will showcase her potential once again. “She’s been great for us this year, and I think there’s more to come with a bit of cut in the ground,” he said, eager to see how she performs in what could be one of her most lucrative races yet.
Ambitions Run High
With Eustace juggling major international and domestic racing ambitions, the stakes couldn’t be higher for his yard. Docklands and Sea King’s Australian ventures are filled with promise, while Divine Comedy’s Irish Cesarewitch bid is a tantalizing prospect. Whether racing Down Under or closer to home, Eustace is positioning his horses for global success, making sure that every step counts. He’s not just plotting for big races—he’s planning for victories that could elevate his name to even greater heights in the racing world.
