Tag Archive for: Cox Plate

Harry Eustace looking forward to Australian adventure

Harry Eustace is plotting a two-pronged assault on some of Australia’s biggest races with Docklands and Sea King.

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 at Royal Ascot has performed with credit in some high-class contests this term, notably when chasing home Charyn in the 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, albeit briefly.

Eustace told Grosvenor Sport: “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.

“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.

Royal Ascot 2023 – Day Three – Ascot Racecourse
Harry Eustace and winning connections of Docklands at Royal Ascot (John Walton/PA).

“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.”

Eustace is also ready to travel with Ascot Stakes runner-up Divine Comedy, although her journey will be much shorter.

Betfred Temple Stakes Day – Haydock Park Racecourse – Saturday 25th May
Divine Comedy in winning action at Haydock in May (Nigel French/PA).

The trainer added: “The plan is very much to go to the Irish Cesarewitch with Divine Comedy, rather than the Newmarket version, at the moment.

“It’s worth a lot more, and I think the track and hopefully the going will suit. She loves soft ground and she stayed two miles and four furlongs well at Ascot on better ground, so I think two miles and two furlongs on softer ground should be ideal conditions for her.

“She hasn’t really had her conditions since winning at Haydock in May and hopefully there is a bit more to come from her with some cut back in the ground. She’s been great for us this year.”



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York beckons for Docklands before Aussie adventure

Docklands has the Cox Plate in his sights after the brave decision by trainer Harry Eustace was rewarded in the Queen Anne.

The four-year-old was a Royal Ascot winner last season, landing the Britannia Stakes on a memorable day for his young handler.

Ascot seems to suit Docklands, who has never been unplaced there and was second in the Paradise Stakes on his first start of the season when beaten only a neck.

He then headed to Longchamp to finish second in Listed company, after which connections took the plunge and stepped him up to Group One level to contest the Queen Anne at Royal Ascot instead of his Listed alternative in the Wolferton.

Docklands (centre) ran a tremendous race in the Queen Anne at Royal Ascot
Docklands (centre) ran a tremendous race in the Queen Anne at Royal Ascot (David Davies/PA)

Under Hayley Turner he ran a fine race, beating all bar impressive winner Charyn.

“I was delighted, we had him in the Wolferton as well but we took the chance, with his straight course form, in a Group One,” Eustace said of the run.

“For him to look as competitive as he did was incredibly exciting and though he’s been a lot of fun up until now he’s clearly going to be a lot more fun still.”

Docklands is Australia-bound and has Victoria-based owners in OTI Racing, with his Ascot run inspiring a more ambitious target in the Southern Hemisphere as the Cox Plate is now the likely aim.

“Australia is the plan, but his target has probably changed since that run, we were going to target a race called the Five Diamonds, but I would say our priority is the Cox Plate,” Eustace said.

Hayley Turner has struck up a fine partnership with Docklands
Hayley Turner has struck up a fine partnership with Docklands (John Walton/PA)

“He is owned now by OTI and it would be huge for them to have a competitive runner in there.

“His next race will probably be at the York Ebor meeting – I would imagine he’ll go in the Strensall, but he does have an entry in the Juddmonte as well.

“We’ll just track it through and see what happens, we’re quite looking forward to stepping him up in trip.

“I don’t know if he will run between York and Australia because it can start to happen quite quickly as their quarantine is a month, the Cox Plate is in October so that eats into September and York is in August – suddenly it all starts happening.

“I would imagine he’ll have just the one run at the Ebor meeting and it’ll be between one of those two races.”



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Romantic Warrior claims Cox Plate glory for Hong Kong

Romantic Warrior created history at Moonee Valley when the Hong Kong star won Australia’s most prestigious race, the Ladbrokes Cox Plate.

A multiple Group One winner in his homeland, the five-year-old was facing a completely different test on Saturday.

Trained by Danny Shum, the Irish-bred son of Acclamation was ridden by home jockey James McDonald and his local knowledge proved crucial.

Caught wide on the turn into the short home straight, Romantic Warrior looked to have a mountain to climb as seven-time Group One winner Alligator Blood hit the front before being challenged by Mr Brightside.

However, McDonald got Romantic Warrior rolling and managed to get home by a short head.

Since Able Friend’s eclipse at Royal Ascot in 2015, the majority of Hong Kong’s best horses have stayed closer to home with such big prize money on offer, but Shum’s and owner Peter Lau’s adventurousness was rewarded.

“It has big meaning for me as a trainer. It makes me happy. I’m more happy than I can tell you,” Shum told www.racing.com.

“I don’t know how to tell you how happy I am. I am really happy.

“I want to thank Peter the owner for giving permission to come here. James McDonald, all the team, all the Hong Kong fans, my wife Christine, my son Aaron. I love you! I love you!”

McDonald said: “I showed belief. This horse is pretty special to me. I mentioned if he came to a Cox Plate he’d be a suitable horse.

“I meant what I said and credit to Peter and Danny, it takes a hell of a lot of balls to come out of Hong Kong with all the prize money. It is one of the best racing jurisdictions in the world and they come here and showcase their boy.

“I was comfortable. I knew I was on the right horse; I kept going ‘he’s the best horse, he’s the best horse’ so I’d ride him like it.

“I took a gamble about the 1000 (metres) or 1200. We elected to come back a spot and to the minute right now I believe that was the winning move. Giving my horse an extra length to come back.

“I let Alligator Blood near him knowing I think I can still beat him letting him out and having last crack.”

Aidan O’Brien’s Victoria Road finished back in ninth under jockey Blake Shinn.



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Lavery admits ‘right decision’ to sell stable star New Energy

Sheila Lavery feels both “privileged and proud” to have trained New Energy as he prepares relocate to Australia for new connections.

The New Bay colt caught the eye when finishing second in last season’s Irish 2,000 Guineas at odds of 40-1.

He then flew the flag for the stable in a string of Group events across Ireland, England and France, coming home three lengths behind Coroebus in the St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot and finishing second when beaten just a length in Doncaster’s Park Stakes.

This year the chestnut finished fourth in the Amethyst Stakes at Leopardstown and was most recently seen placing third behind Cosmic Vega in the Listed Owenstown Stud Stakes at Naas in late May.

Australian Bloodstock have followed New Energy’s movements for over a year and have now purchased the colt to be trained by Ciaron Maher and David Eustace.

The latter’s brother Harry, who trains in Newmarket, will house the horse until he sets sail for his new home and prepares for his ultimate target in the Cox Plate.

Lavery and her brother John, who owns the horse, have been fielding offers for some time now and eventually agreed to part with their stable star and let him shine in another racing jurisdiction.

“They’ve been trying to buy him for over a year and in the end it just made economical sense for the owner to sell him,” the trainer said.

“They’ve some very deep pockets and I was at a bit of a crossroads with him. It makes economical sense for the owner for him to go to Australia, so I’m delighted for John but heartbroken to see him go.

“I’m gutted. I didn’t think I’d be as upset as I am, but it’s the right thing and it’s the right business decision. I’ve been very privileged and proud to train him.”

Lavery expects New Energy to benefit from the style of racing out in Australia and is looking forward to seeing the horse campaigned at the top level in new colours in the future.

She said: “He’s a gorgeous, sound horse that needs pace to run at and I think the style of racing in Australia will really suit him, so I’ll really look forward to seeing him win his Group Ones there.

“We’ll have to move on to the next one, but I think he’s going to win a lot of money and a lot of races out there – more than he probably would have won in Europe.

“His best runs were in straightforward races where there was a lot of pace – the (Irish) Guineas and the Group Two in Doncaster – he just loved it and he thrives on that kind of racing.

“In fairness they have been trying to buy him from the get-go, since he won as a two-year-old almost.

“They’ve really had their eye on him and they’ve been watching his career very closely.”



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