Horse Racing News: Docklands Eyes Cox Plate After Impressive Queen Anne Run
In a significant development in the horse racing world, the four-year-old gelding Docklands has his sights set on the prestigious Cox Plate after his brave performance in the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot. The decision by his trainer, Harry Eustace, to step up the horse to the Group One level has paid off handsomely.
Docklands, a Royal Ascot winner last season in the Britannia Stakes, has always shown a fondness for the Ascot racecourse, having never been unplaced there. His recent runner-up finish in the Queen Anne Stakes, where he was beaten only by the impressive Charyn, has inspired his connections to aim for an ambitious target in the Southern Hemisphere – the Cox Plate.
“I was delighted, we had him in the Wolferton as well but we took the chance, with his straight course form, in a Group One,” Eustace said of Docklands’ Queen Anne run. “For him to look as competitive as he did was incredibly exciting, and though he’s been a lot of fun up until now, he’s clearly going to be a lot more fun still.”
Docklands is now owned by the Victoria-based OTI Racing, and the Cox Plate in Australia has become the likely aim for the promising gelding. Eustace noted that the original plan was to target a race called the Five Diamonds, but the Queen Anne performance has altered their priorities.
The next stop for Docklands will likely be at the York Ebor meeting, where he is expected to contest either the Strensall Stakes or the Juddmonte International. However, Eustace acknowledged the tight timeline, as the Cox Plate is scheduled for October, and the quarantine process can be a factor.
- Docklands is a four-year-old gelding.
- He won the Britannia Stakes at Royal Ascot last season.
- He recently finished runner-up in the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot.
- His trainer, Harry Eustace, is considering the prestigious Cox Plate in Australia as his next target.
- Docklands is now owned by the Victoria-based OTI Racing.
- He is expected to run at the York Ebor meeting, either in the Strensall Stakes or the Juddmonte International.
Docklands’ remarkable rise and connections’ ambitious plans for the Cox Plate have certainly piqued the interest of horse racing enthusiasts. With his impressive performances at Ascot and the promise of an exciting campaign in Australia, the future looks bright for this talented four-year-old.
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