Harry Eustace had a week at Royal Ascot beyond his wildest dreams when completing a Group 1 double with Docklands and Time For Sandals and his head is deservedly in the clouds as he skips off for three-day break to sit back and contemplate his yard’s achievements.
Docklands has saved his best performances for the straight mile at Ascot but not even his most fervent supporters could have foreseen his courageous success under first-time-at-the-Royal meeting jockey Mark Zahra, as the pair withheld the late thrust of Rosallion in the Queen Anne Stakes in the opening race of the five days.
If that wasn’t enough, then Group 1 lightening did strike twice when Time For Sandals was another to hold on well when defying Arizona Blaze by a neck in the Commonwealth Cup.
A day after the meeting finished, Eustance said: “It hasn’t sunk in yet but the reaction we got from everyone has been lovely. The horses have run amazingly well and they have come right at the right time but that is what the job is all about.”
Divine Comedy ran yet another stormer when fifth, beaten a length and three quarters, to Ascending in the Ascot Stakes handicap and the unlucky-in-running La Botte came within a neck of providing him with a third winner when beaten by Arabian Story in the Britannia Handicap.
With his team in almighty form, Eustace kindly talked to Tony Elves of attheraces.com about his Newmarket-trained team.