Ascot has brought the best out of Docklands before and Harry Eustace hopes it can do so again as he prepares his stable star for a revival bid in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes on Champions Day.
Last year’s Queen Anne winner began this season in promising fashion with success at Doncaster before finishing third in the Champions Mile at Sha Tin.
However, he has failed to rediscover that form, with Eustace believing the Hong Kong trip may have contributed to defeats in the Queen Anne, Summer Mile and Sussex Stakes.
“It’s probably not surprising with having gone to Hong Kong, going there at that time of the season it can be hard to keep at that level all year,” Eustace said. “Although at home he’s seemed his usual self, I’m not sure he’s quite run his race since Hong Kong.”
Docklands will return from an 81-day break in the Queen Elizabeth II on October 17, and Eustace is encouraged by his record when fresh.
“We’ve freshened him up a bit since Goodwood and he’ll head straight to Ascot. His record off a break isn’t too bad, so we’re confident enough we can get him there in decent shape.”
Docklands finished fourth in the race last year after a 62-day break and has an excellent record at Ascot, with three wins, three seconds and a third from ten starts.
Eustace also hopes a return to Docklands’ favourite track can spark a comeback and believes the race is an ideal opportunity, with several leading milers having targets elsewhere.
“Ascot is a great place for him, and he’s pretty versatile with the ground,” he said. “A few of the quality milers are heading to the Breeders’ Cup by the sounds of it, so it’s probably the right spot for him to be.”
Beyond Champions Day, Hong Kong and the Dubai Carnival are among the options under consideration for Docklands’ winter campaign.
“He’s got to get past Ascot first, but Sha Tin would definitely be an option if he came back to form. We’re mulling over the Dubai Carnival too and whether he winters out in Dubai this year.”
The above article was written by Oliver Barnard and published on the Racing Post.