Harry Eustace talks up ‘in-form’ Docklands’ chances of York success
Trainer Harry Eustace has told Grosvenor Sport that he is “very excited” to run his stable star Docklands in York’s £1.25m Group 1 Juddmonte International on Wednesday.
The Grosvenor Sport ambassador hasn’t run the Queen Anne runner-up since Royal Ascot but believes he is in top form ahead of a first try over 10 furlongs.
Sports News Blitz doesn’t go too big on their coverage of horse racing - but the York Ebor Festival is a flagship event on the UK racing calendar - and odds of 33/1 for a Docklands win sound enticing for a horse in ‘great form’.
“Docklands is in great form and it’s all systems go for the Juddmonte International on Wednesday,” said Eustace.
“The Strensall had been the plan, but we’ve been looking forward to stepping him up to a mile-and-a-quarter for a while now, and we’re very excited to run him here.
“We think we know where we are in terms of the older horses in the race, so it’s just a case of matching him up against the three-year-olds.
“City Of Troy’s run in the Eclipse gave us a bit of a clue and we’re very happy to take him on, as well as the others from the Classic generation.”
The Cox Plate remains the long-term plan
While this week is all about York and the Juddmonte International, Eustace has got bigger plans Down Under for Docklands with the Cox Plate at Moonee Valley in October.
He added: “It's very exciting to be aiming for the Cox Plate later in the season, and that’s partly why he hasn’t had a run since Ascot, as we try and space his races out.
“We want to keep him nice and fresh and healthy throughout the summer, as he could have had a long year ahead of him by the time he’s finished in Australia.
“The Juddmonte seems the perfect stepping stone for him before he heads into quarantine for Australia, and while the three-year-olds are towards the head of the betting, we’re really looking forward to the clash.”
Crystal Delight and Ziggy lead the team in the Ebor
As it so often does, Saturday’s Ebor looks anyone’s race at the five-day stage, and Eustace will be hoping his two runners, Crystal Delight and Ziggy, can out-run their odds.
He said: “We run Crystal Delight and Ziggy in the Ebor, and they’re two I’m very happy with. Crystal Delight slightly blotted his copybook last time, but we feel that the Ebor should see him back on track.
“It has been the target for a long time, and while we don’t know for sure if he’ll stay, both the way he trains and his pedigree suggest that he’s got as good a chance as any.
“Ziggy seems in great form as well. He’s been very consistent this year, placing at Royal Ascot along the way, and I was delighted to get his head back in front the other day.
“He brings York form to the table, which is a big positive, so having two chances in a race like this is very exciting.”
Eustace’s York team is completed by Divine Comedy (Stayers Handicap, Wednesday), Boadicia (5f Fillies’ Handicap, Wednesday), Time For Sandals (Lowther Stakes, Thursday), and Chasing Aphrodite (1m2f Handicap, Saturday).
Juddmonte International Stakes, York (Wednesday, August 21)
City Of Troy - 11/10
Calandagan - 6/1
Bluestocking - 13/2
Ambiente Friendly - 7/1
Alflaila - 9/1
Ghostwriter - 14/1
Zarakem - 18/1
Durezza - 28/1
Maljoom - 28/1
Israr - 28/1
Docklands - 33/1
BAR - 50/1
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