Champions Stakes or The Five Diamonds for UK galloper Docklands
UK galloper Docklands is set to have his second Australian start, most likely to be in a Group 1 race at Flemington.
The Harry Eustace-trained galloper is an acceptor for the Champions Stakes (2000m) at Flemington on Saturday while he is also one of 20 horses that were paid up for at acceptance time in the Five Diamond (1800m) at Rosehill.
Declan Bates has been booked to ride Docklands at Flemington while no rider has been engaged for the mount in Sydney.
Docklands came out to Australia to contest the Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley, finishing fifth to Via Sistina, beaten 11 lengths after tiring in the final stages of the race.
It was the entire’s first outing since running in the Juddmonte International at York in August.
Eustace said the 1800m of the Five Diamonds possibly looks a more suitable trip for Docklands, however he would like to see the horse run again over 2000m before a break.
“On paper he should go to the Five Diamonds, but that is a full field and with the hustle and bustle he will need some racing luck,” Eustace said.
“On the other hand, he’ll have to take on Via Sistina in the Champions Stakes.
“I’m very keen to go another run at a mile-and-quarter with a run under the belt, because we will learn plenty for next season.”
Eustace said when planning the trip to Melbourne, the idea was to bank two runs before making the return trip to Europe.
He also felt after the Cox Plate, the bigger Flemington circuit will be more to his liking.
The Cox Plate for many runners, you’d assume, was their big day,” Eustace said.
“Through quarantine restrictions and all the rest of it, we hadn’t had a run for a while.
“At the top of the straight he put himself in a position to run a really good third and I thought he just emptied out a little bit late.
It was a very good run in an incredibly deep Cox Plate, and he still finished in the first five and as everybody knows they broke the track record.
“It was a privilege to be a part of it and hopefully we can turn the tables.”
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