Harry Eustace is looking forward to sharing one of the biggest stages in racing with his brother David when his double Royal Ascot winner Docklands takes on the best in the Hong Kong Mile on Sunday.
Although the siblings will not be competing in the same race as David’s Massive Sovereign runs in the Hong Kong Cup, it will understandably be a proud evening for their father, James, the former Newmarket trainer.
Docklands makes his second visit to Sha Tin after finishing in the field 12 months ago, but that came after a tough spell in Australia, while his most recent effort came this year in the Japanese Mile Championship where he was not disgraced and was beaten by five lengths.
“He ran his race (in Japan),” Eustace said. “We were drawn 16 out of 18, came too far back, but he came home well. When I looked at the result again, the winner won by a few lengths, but we weren’t far away from actually being involved with the rest. I think we could have been there with a better draw. So we’re very happy and it was a brilliant experience.”
“Last year was maybe a messy second half of the year for him because we tilted towards the Cox (plate) over 2040 meters (10 furlongs).
“He did well in the Queen Anne, then City Of Troy’s Juddmonte International, then the Cox Plate, took on Via Sistina again in the Champion Stakes and then returned to a sharp mile in Hong Kong.
“I feel like this year compared to last year he is clearly a better horse and more consistent and competitive at the highest level.
“I hope it has stood him in good stead to get back on the road. If we could get a good draw, I think he could show up a little better than last year, that’s for sure.
“I believe my brother (David) will have a runner (Massive Sovereign) in the 2000m race (Hong Kong Cup) – he almost had a runner in the mile race, which would have been even more fun.
“To both be involved in a day like this is just fantastic for the two of us. And if we can raise some prize money that would be great.”
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