English and Australian rivalries will not just be confined to the boundaries of Edgbaston this week, with the prestigious Royal Ascot commencing on Tuesday. While we eagerly await the Broad vs Warner contest in Birmingham, further entertainment will emanate, for the Australian racing industry at least, from the battles of Highland Princess vs Coolangatta, Artorius and Cannonball.
In the Class 2 Brittania Stakes on Thursday however, the English and Australian connections of Docklands will be far more cordial. English trained and ridden, but with predominantly Australian owners (a lovely British couple the exception), Docklands will be seeking to bring success at Royal Ascot to OTI for the first time. Along with it, for trainer Harry Eustace too.
With only a handful of OTI contenders at Royal Ascot over the years, the adage ‘races are hard to win anywhere’ is never truer than at this prestigious event. Big fields, quality horses and the very best jockeys ensure that each race on each card over five days is hotly contested.
To think that Docklands, a well bought son of a little-known son of Teofilo named Massaat, will present as OTI’s best chance yet of success at Royal Ascot in itself is quite amazing. Listed in a yearling sale at Tattersalls in September 2021, he was of interest to us initially only for one reason – he was the half-brother to a horse showing great potential in Australia named Harbour Views. Employing the services of Stu Boman at Blandford Bloodstock to inspect on our behalf, we were pleased to discover that the yearling had all the attributes of a promising young colt. Without the tag of a big-name stallion as his sire, he would be most buyable and so has proven an astute acquisition.
Docklands’ progression has been professional from the moment Harry Eustace laid eyes on him. The brother of ‘Australian’ trainer David, Harry has always held an opinion of the colt and has taken him along cautiously throughout. A debut run as a 2yo for experience saw him just miss the win, but he was put away for the winter with high hopes that we had a horse to contest high-quality races the following season.
Stepping out for the first time as a three-year-old in March, Docklands was somewhat unfortunate to run into Cicero’s Gift. Cicero’s Gift remains undefeated, most recently saluting by 5.5 lengths at Goodwood, and is currently favourite for the G1 St James Palace Stakes on Tuesday’s card.
Docklands broke through then for a well-deserved victory when dropping back to a lowly maiden at Kempton in April. However, it was his first venture to the course and distance that to which he will return on Thursday when he became of interest to the wider English and Australian racing industries. A 6.5 length romp down the Ascot mile left quite the impression.
And so, on Thursday June 22, at which time Australia will likely hold a 1-0 lead in the Ashes, a small group of Australian owners (and a lovely British couple) will descend on Royal Ascot with hopes of glory. With the assistance of Harry Eustace and jockey Hayley Turner, may Docklands hit them all for six.
Docklands has drawn barrier 18 in a field of 33 for the Brittania Stakes on Thursday. Click here to view full field details.