'We're very confident about the form he's shown at Group 1 level' - Harry Eustace out to emulate brother in Cox Plate

Harry Eustace will attempt to emulate his younger brother David by winning the Ladbrokes Cox Plate at Moonee Valley on Saturday with Docklands.

David Eustace, along with Ciaron Maher, saddled Sir Dragonet to win the 2020 running of Australia’s premier weight-for-age race during a successful stint training in the country. He now trains in his own right in Hong Kong.

Harry Eustace, who took over from his father James in Newmarket has also enjoyed considerable success since starting out, but Docklands would provide him with his biggest achievement should he win on Saturday.

"We're very confident about the form he's shown at Group 1 level this year, particularly behind Charyn, who has since gone on to be the standout miler this year," Eustace told ANZ Bloodstock News.

"The obvious sort of, not unknown, but, difference is the mile and a quarter, but we've always felt it is within his compass and I was very happy with how he ran in the International Stakes at York. 

"The Cox Plate speaks for itself, and to have a horse that is even good enough to be invited down, and we think be competitive, is incredibly exciting for us, and we're very much looking forward to being a part of it." 

Among Docklands’ opponents is Via Sistina, who has landed three Group 1s in Australia since being bought for £2.84m (€3.4m) at the Tattersalls December Sales by owner Yuesheng Zhang.

However, the mare’s preparation for the Cox Plate has not been without drama after she unshipped big-race jockey James McDonald during a workout at Moonee Valley on Tuesday, then ran loose around the course before being caught.

Via Sistina gallops loose at Moonee Valley on TuesdayCredit: Scott Barbour

Via Sistina has returned to exercise at Moonee Valley since without concern, according to trainer Chris Waller, who said: “She's ready to go. I'm really happy with her. We'll use all the next few days to make sure she's okay, but if she holds her current wellness and health, she'll certainly be there.”

Waller landed the Cox Plate four times in a row with the mighty Winx between the ages of four and seven. In general, older horses have held sway in the race this century with only Savabeel, So You Think and Shamus Award winning as three-year-olds.

That is the challenge awaiting Broadsiding, who is one of two three-year-olds lining up in the Cox Plate, a race his trainer James Cummings won with four-year-old Anamoe in 2022.

Cummings said: “He’s been lightly raced this spring and I feel like the horse is ready to peak. It would be an incredible achievement for the horse, if he could rise to the occasion and win a Cox Plate.”

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