Harry Eustace is plotting a two-pronged assault on some of Australia's biggest races with Docklands (GB) (Massaat {Ire}) and Sea King (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}).
Being owned by Australian-based syndication company OTI Racing, Docklands was always slated for a trip to the Southern Hemisphere. Last year's Britannia Stakes winner has performed with credit in some high-class contests this season, notably when returning to Royal Ascot to fill the runner-up spot behind Charyn (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) in the G1 Queen Anne Stakes.
Sea King was last seen finishing a staying-on sixth in the Ebor under the care of Sir Mark Prescott, but the five-time scorer has since switched to Park Lodge Stables.
Eustace told Grosvenor Sport, “Docklands is heading to Australia in a weeks' time, where he'll go into quarantine in preparation for his run in the Cox Plate.
“We've just got to mind him now and keep him happy and healthy before the race on October 26. He'll be quarantined at Werribee, where they have a training facility for the international horses.
“Moonee Valley is a tough course, but Docklands has always been a strong-travelling horse and usually if you travel around tracks like that then you can handle it. We're hopeful it won't be a problem.
He added, “Sea King will travel over to Australia with Docklands. He's a horse that is relatively new to us having come from Sir Mark Prescott's.
“It was an encouraging run from him in the Ebor last time and he shaped there as though he'd stay further–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.
“He's fit and ready to go after his run at York and we're just keeping him ticking over now. He'll run in something like the Geelong Cup or the Werribee Cup, which are win-and-you're-in races for the Melbourne Cup and that will dictate where he ends up.
“He's been bought to stay in Australia once he's run for us a couple of times, whereas the plan is to come home with Docklands.”
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