Docklands out to deliver for OTI in Cox Plate

It has taken a little longer than they initially hoped, but OTI will get a crack at the Cox Plate with a son of Mark Of Esteem mare Icky Woo when Docklands lines up in Saturday’s $5 million event.

The Harry Eustace-trained son of Massaat will have his first Australian start in the 2040-metre Group 1, but it will not be the first time a member of the family chased feature events at Moonee Valley.

Docklands is a younger half-brother to Harbour Views, who was bred in France but was exported to Australia early and won his first five starts to once be considered one of the most exciting horses in the country.

Harbour Views, who is by Le Havre, placed in the Group 2 Feehan Stakes of 2020, but did not get to the Cox Plate and won just once in his final nine starts before being retired a winner of seven of his 18 starts.

He can lay claim to still be bringing joy to OTI, however, being the reason OTI bought Docklands and many who were part of the ownership group in Harbour Views are also involved in Docklands.

They can thank one of OTI’s trusted European bloodstock agents Stuart Boman, who was on the ball at the 2021 September Yearling Sale at Tattersall’s, for the opportunity.

“This fellow came along at Book 2 and Stu Boman rang up and said, ‘look, there a close relation in the sale and he’s quite a nice horse’,” OTI boss Terry Henderson said.

“He only rang about two or three hours before the sale, so it was a very fortuitous buy.”

Boman got Docklands for just €16,000, which is the equivalent of around AU$26,000.

Docklands was bought with the intention of coming to Australia at some point, but Henderson and Eustace left it up to him to decide when that would be and which races he would be directed towards.

He finished second at his only start as a two-year-old, was also second at his three-year-old debut before stringing together a hat-trick of wins, the last of which came when a half-length winner over New Endeavour in the Britannia Stakes (1609m) at Royal Ascot.

He was beaten at his final two starts as a three-year-old, but sights were raised this year and Docklands almost logged another Royal Ascot win this year when second to Charyn in the Group 1 Queen Anne Stakes (1609m).

His only start since came in one of Britain’s best races, the Juddmonte Stakes (2112m), in which he finished seventh in the race won by City Of Troy.

“When he won the Britannia last year we said we’d come to Australia about this time, but we weren’t sure what level he’d reach,” Henderson said.

“But as he continued through last year he ran well and when he ran second in the Queen Anne this year, that was enough to convince us he wouldn’t be embarrassed in a Cox Plate.

“Probably the swinging door with him was in the Juddmonte, that was his first time out to 2000 metres, and he missed the start but he finished off well in a race that was run in track record time.

“We thought then, ‘he can get the 2000 metres, so we’ve got a chance.”

Docklands has drawn the inside alley in the Cox Plate, with Blake Shinn to ride, and while many struggle to cope with the relentless pace that ensues when Pride Of Jenni is involved, Henderson welcomes her presence.

“I think having Pride Of Jenni in the race is good for us – he’s not a sit-sprint horse, he’s a horse that can sustain a good gallop – so he’ll be thereabouts at the finish because he’ll be running the 2000 metres out,” Henderson said.

“Those races at Ascot down the straight, they really do have a lot of pressure on from the word and he’s shown consistently he’s been able to handle that, so I think with a strong run race he’s in it up to his ears.”