Royal Ascot winner 'in as good a place as we've had him' ahead of huge Goodwood clash

Royal Ascot winner Docklands is ‘in as good a place as we’ve had him’ ahead of his clash with star three-year-old Field Of Gold in the Visit Qatar Sussex Stakes

Eustace enjoyed a breakthrough royal meeting last month when his two winners at the world-renowned event were registered in Group 1 races, with Docklands winning the Queen Anne Stakes and Time For Sandals, the Commonwealth Cup. Docklands produced a career-best performance in the Queen Anne, narrowly defeating Rosallion, who is set to repose, and securing a first Royal Ascot win for Australian-based jockey Mark Zahra.

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Eustace said: “Docklands has been super since the race and seems to have come out of it very well. He has done a couple of bits of work since. He obviously came out of it race fit, so it’s getting him into Goodwood in as good a form as we got him into Ascot.

“We are under no illusions regarding the opposition. We take on the three-year-olds, particularly Field of Gold, which will be the toughest opponent he’s faced so far, but he’s in as good a place as we have ever had him.

“At Ascot, it was not an end-to-end gallop which you would have expected, but quite a tactically run race. That can typically be true at Goodwood as well, that encouraged us to give him the chance back at Goodwood.

“The track should suit him. He has run there before and to the eye was a little disappointing, but it was his first run off the back of his win in the Britannia and, in hindsight, I don’t know whether I had him one hundred percent.

“He handled Epsom well, so I have no problem with the cambers at Goodwood. The quality might be another matter.”

Docklands will have another change of jockey with Tom Marquand set to step in.

“Finding someone who can commit over two or three races this year is difficult for a yard our size, but I’m obviously keen to get the best available,” Eustace added. “I have a good relationship with Tom through my time with William Haggas and I think he’ll suit him well.”

Time For Sandals, a surprise 25-1 winner of the Commonwealth Cup, who will step back to 5f for the Group 2 King George Qatar Stakes.

The three-year-old filly has finished in the first three in all six of her career starts, including runner-up efforts in the Lowther Stakes at York last season and a Group 3 in France.

Eustace said: “She’s come out of Ascot particularly well. It was a big effort, and the extra few weeks have really helped her.

“The Chantilly form has worked out very well and the winner of that has won the Prix Jean Prat, so her form is beginning to stack up stronger than people maybe thought it did on the day.

“The big question mark is back to a sharp five for her having won over a stiff six at Ascot.

“Personally, I don’t think it will be a problem and Richard [Kingscote], who rode her at Ascot, is pretty positive she’ll be fine over it too, but if we’re going to find her out this year it will be in this race.”