A great thrill overnight from Royal Ascot as Docklands wins the Britannia Stakes for connections and trainer Harry Eustace. A first ever success for the team at this prestigious event makes it a very special moment for everyone involved.
OTI’s Terry Henderson is celebrating one of the greatest moments in his racing career after Docklands saluted in The Britannia Stakes at Royal Ascot.
Trained by Harry Eustace and ridden by Hayley Turner, Docklands showed an incredible turn of foot down the outside rail to clinch victory in the 1600m event.
“It’s up there,” Henderson said when asked where the win rated in his career.
“We all come over here … It’s a Mecca for horse racing. We forget about prizemoney, forget about a lot of things we worry about in Australia.
“To win at Royal Ascot for our guys, the team back home and for Harry Eustace as well … just sensational.”
Henderson heaped praise on OTI’s ‘terrific’ owners, with a big decision likely to be made on Docklands’ future shortly.
OTI is expecting to field plenty of calls from bloodstock agents following the win, with interest growing in the half brother to Group performed Harbour Views.
“He is a half brother to Harbour Views. Matty Williams will be watching back in Warrnambool and hoping he will get to train this one day … which I don’t think you’ll get to train Matt,” he said with a laugh.
“We haven’t got any plans yet. It would be lovely for Harry to take one down there (to Australia).
“He is clearly a pretty good horse. We will have to fight off some agents, who will be looking for him to do some other things than what we probably want him to do lie go to Hong Kong. Our owners will probably stay and run the journey with Harry.”
"To win at Royal Ascot, for our guys & the team back home…just sensational."
— Racing.com (@Racing) June 22, 2023
What a moment for Terry Henderson & the team at @OTIRacing 🙌@JaseRicho #RoyalAscot pic.twitter.com/cIW30Z2FeE
Eustace, the brother of Australian-based David, said “It was obviously a big performance.
“He’ll stay a mile and a quarter in time, when we go that far. We’ll have a chat with connections, but I don’t think there’s any rush at the moment.
“Terry Henderson of OTI Racing has been a supporter of mine, and of my brother’s in Australia, from the get-go, really, and to be able to repay him with a Royal Ascot winner is very special.
“It’s always a team effort, but it’s a family business as well, but having my brother here from Oz, and my cousin and aunt and uncle – it’s very, very special. You can’t ask for more.”
Part of the above is an excert of the Racing.com article by Ryan Reynolds and can be read in full here.