Harry Eustace uses intel for Cox Plate assault with Docklands

Trainer Harry Eustace is using intelligence gained from his brother and previous visits to Australia to stage a Cox Plate upset.

Information is everything when making a long-range assault and trainer Harry Eustace has made sure he has plenty of it ahead of Saturday’s Cox Plate.

Eustace will run Docklands in the weight-for-age championship for Australian ownership group brought together under the OTI Racing banner.

Eustace’s brother David, now based in Hong Kong, won the Cox Plate in partnership with Ciaron Maher with Sir Dragonet in 2020.

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Harry looked after the likes of Sir Dragonet and many of Maher and Eustace’s other successful imports before they made the trip to Australia.

“We’ve looked after quite a few horses when they’ve done this process before,” Eustace said.

“That’s a big plus because it means we know where we need them before they fly, what we do after they fly and that sort of stuff.

“Also, we know what it takes to be competitive in a race like this.”

Jerome Frandon rides Docklands during trackwork at Werribee on Tuesday morning. Picture: Racing Photos via Getty Images

Insight gained from his sibling and gathered from his own experiences in Sydney in recent years has given Eustace a solid base for his first trip to Melbourne with a runner of his own.

“I was very lucky, I brought Addeybb and Young Rascal down for my old boss William Haggas as well,” Eustace said.

“I’ve physically done it myself.

“It was in Sydney but it wasn’t new to us, we’d done it before and that helped a lot as well.”

Docklands had four runs in during the European summer for three seconds, including in the Group 1 Queen Anne Stakes during the Royal Ascot carnival.

The Queen Anne Stakes winner Charyn showed the strength of that form in the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot last Saturday.

• Runner by runner: Group 1 Cox Plate form analysis and tips

Docklands has been in Melbourne since late September, which is longer than Eustace would have preferred, making last Thursday’s gallop at The Valley a vital outing for the stallion.

Eustace said the gallop and the report from Cox Plate jockey Blake Shinn indicated Docklands would be in peak condition for his $5m assignment.

“Blake was delighted with him last Thursday and now we’re trying to keep him where he’s at until Saturday,” Eustace said.

“Hopefully that will have him cherry ripe.

“Mentally, it really looks as though he’s beginning to settle into a groove.

“He looks a very confident and comfortable horse.”

Race sponsor Ladbrokes rated Docklands as a $19 chance in its latest Cox Plate betting.

Originally published as Harry Eustace uses intel for Cox Plate assault with Docklands