Harry Eustace is hopeful a change of approach can see globetrotting miler Docklands hit a new level when he lines up in the HK$24 million Group 1 FWD Champions Mile at Sha Tin on April 26.
A familiar face on Hong Kong’s biggest stage, Docklands has contested the past two editions of the LONGINES Hong Kong Mile, highlighted by a strong fourth behind Voyage Bubble last December. This time, however, Eustace says the Champions Mile is no longer a stopover – it is the sole focus.
“The interesting thing this time is that Hong Kong has always been on the way back from something else,” Eustace said. “This is the first time it’s the whole point of the trip, so I hope that makes a difference.”
The six-year-old arrives in Hong Kong off a comfortable victory in the Listed Doncaster Mile last month, his first start since a stellar 2025 campaign that included a breakthrough Group 1 success in the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot.
“He’s come out of Doncaster really well,” Eustace said. “It was lovely to see him come back in as good order as ever and I haven’t had to do a great deal with him since.”
A model of consistency at the elite mile level, Docklands finished fourth in both the Prix Jacques le Marois and the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes last season and was also fifth in the Sussex Stakes, often holding his own against Europe’s best.
The son of Massaat was campaigned aggressively across Britain, France, Japan and Hong Kong last year, and Eustace believes maturity is now adding versatility to his racing style.
“Towards the end of last year he was finally running well,” he said. “People labelled him a straight-track horse, but he put in a really good run in the Hong Kong Mile and he’s becoming more adaptable with age.
“He got himself into the race better – jumped a bit cleaner and took a position. Once he does that, he’s got the class to be competitive.”
Docklands will again be ridden by Mark Zahra and faces a strong line-up in the Champions Mile, including fellow Group 1 winners Voyage Bubble, Lucky Sweynesse, Red Lion and Japan’s Jantar Mantar.
While Docklands finished ninth behind Jantar Mantar in November’s Mile Championship at Kyoto, Eustace is confident that run can be upgraded.
“He was well beaten in Japan, but nothing really went right for him,” he said. “He missed the start and had to make his run very wide. With a bit of racing luck, I think he’s got a genuine each-way chance.”
Eustace will also have the advantage of family support on the ground, with brother David Eustace overseeing preparations in Hong Kong before Docklands arrives late next week.
“It’s a bonus having him there full-time,” Eustace said. “Going somewhere your brother trains and having a live contender on one of their biggest days adds another layer of excitement.”
The above article was posted by Racing.com and can be found here.