Harry Eustace hails "absolute dream" debut victory for the five-year-old gelding.

Harry Eustace hailed Sea King's comfortable win in Wednesday's Bendigo Cup as an "absolute dream," solidifying the gelding's place in the prestigious Melbourne Cup field. The five-year-old, making his Australian debut after transitioning from Sir Mark Prescott's stable in Britain, showcased his talent in the Bendigo Group Three race. With 18 previous starts that included five wins and a notable sixth-place finish in the Ebor, expectations were high.

Purchased by OTI Racing and entrusted to Eustace, Sea King was heavily supported in the 12-furlong contest. Jockey Declan Bates rode with exceptional confidence, allowing Sea King to take the lead around the turn before effortlessly pulling away in the straight.

Eustace, who had recently partnered with OTI Racing to finish fifth with Docklands in last Saturday's Cox Plate, expressed his delight at seeing Sea King shine in his Australian bow. "It's incredibly exciting. A lot was riding on it; it's the last win-and-you're-in spot for the Cup, so it's an absolute dream result today," Eustace told www.racing.com. He acknowledged OTI's Terry Henderson for the inspired purchase of the horse just before Docklands traveled to Australia, which turned out to be fortuitous.

Eustace further noted the growing pressure as the Melbourne Cup approached, admitting, "Curiously, coming down, we never even thought we'd get close to a Cup spot, and of course, since we've been here, the Cup has really started cutting up."

The trainer also commended Bates for his superb ride, emphasizing, "It was just a beautiful ride from Dec Bates. We picked him because we hoped he'd understand the European style, and it wouldn’t be a sit-and-sprint race." Eustace was keen to impart to Bates that Sea King was more of a typical European horse who needed time to find his rhythm, and the strategy paid off in spectacular fashion.