Time for Docklands to deliver away from Ascot
The five-year-old often saves his best for Ascot and was second there to John and Thady Gosden's Sardinian Warrior on his return in the Paradise Stakes, with his conqueror advertising the form when going close in the Prix d'Ispahan.
His last victory, however, came in the Britannia Stakes at the 2023 Royal meeting and Eustace said: 'I'm frustrated because I feel he should have won another nice race by now, but the fact Ascot is his favourite track means we bump into a lot of good horses.
'It's up to him to translate that form to a track like Epsom. His form puts him bang there, it is now just a case of him showing it on a track that isn't Ascot.
'I think he will be fine around Epsom and I always think at these undulating tracks if you travel well you handle them.
'He's always been a strong-travelling horse and he gets caught out when there is a lack of pace. So in a curious way I was delighted to see so many declared and there's one or two who could be more forwardly ridden, too.
'I hope that helps and if there is a nice, honest gallop, I think he will travel around there fine.'
Richard Hannon's Persica was a handicap winner on this card 12 months ago but now finds himself campaigning in deeper waters, with Ryan Moore in the saddle, while there is an intriguing German raider in the form of Peter Schiergen's three-time Group Three winner Geography.
Also in the field of nine battle-hardened milers is Marco Botti's Royal Dubai, who bids to go one better than his second to Royal Scotsman last year.
'He ran well in the race last year and we've been keeping him fresh after Dubai,' said Botti.
'I thought he ran well at Ascot and this is the race we've had him in mind for a while.'
Another on the search for Epsom redemption is James Tate's Royal Dress, who fell victim to the famous Epsom camber when an agonising third in the Princess Elizabeth Stakes 12 months ago but is back for another bite of the cherry.
She drops back in distance slightly following a pleasing return in the Middleton Stakes at York, with Tate saying: 'Maybe it was just a lack of race fitness that told (at York) or maybe the mile and two and half a furlongs told – she just lost second at the end.
'I'm happy dropping back in trip and this race being a mile and half a furlong could be perfect. She won her Group Three last year over nine furlongs and if you stopped the York race after the same distance she would have been a good second, so we think this trip is good for her.'
David Loughnane will be watching the weather with real interest as he hopes for the soft ground stable star Sparks Fly craves.
'I think the track will be tailor-made for her and she will love the track, but there is just no point in me running her unless it is soft ground,' said Loughnane.
'She's been fine since Saint-Cloud, it wasn't really the ground we were hoping for there when we walked the track, but it's a long way to go to turn around and come home so we took our chance. We're just hoping we get enough rain for Saturday.'
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Leader Live
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Persica pounces under unstoppable Moore for Diomed gold
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North Wales Chronicle
9 hours ago
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Persica pounces under unstoppable Moore for Diomed gold
Winner of a handicap at the Derby meeting last year, this time he was up in Group Three company, but that still represented a step down in class from his last race in the Lockinge. While many expected Richard Hannon's charge to make the running, Moore dropped him right out in last place and he came to beat Ice Max by three-quarters of a length as the 6-4 favourite, with the fast-finishing Docklands in third. 'He's one of those horses who's a pleasure to turn up to the races with and he's a good-looking horse who belongs to the right people and he has a chance in any race,' said Hannon. 'Knowing his owners they'll be thinking Japan Cup and Breeders' Cup and something in Australia, but being honest we've always been happy to ply our trade around this level. We might make the occasional jump up on the back of this which I think makes sense, but he has a chance in any race if he gets his ground. 'Ryan said he struggled going down the hill a bit, but I didn't have the guts to tell him he had been here last year and won!' Karl Burke was happy to see the runner-up return to form and said: 'He's run a great race and I'm delighted but he was probably in front 100 yards too soon. 'He is a one-paced horse and he gets the trip but I don't think he overdoes himself once he gets in front and he was ahead a good furlong and a half out. 'It's great to get him back and I think he would have probably preferred it even softer. 'I think the winner just outstayed us in the last 100 yards and he's a good horse. He's a very strong horse and he does need a bit of cover to get into a rhythm. 'Everything went right today baring the leader just didn't lead us another 100 yards and if he had done that I think we might have nicked it.' Meanwhile, all roads lead to the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot for Docklands after finishing second in the Group One last year. Trainer Harry Eustace said: 'It's frustrating because he's just at that level where everything has to go absolutely right for him, and it just didn't quite. 'He just got in a pocket and he doesn't quicken – he lengthens. The winner and the German horse (Georgraphy) just kept us in a bit longer than Richard (Kingscote) would have wanted, but I can't give any real excuses as they've obviously gone a nice fair gallop and everyone's had a chance. 'He's a legend of a hose for us and that's another good run. He'll definitely go back to Ascot for the Queen Anne as that's always been the plan, but this year it's a much deeper race than last year. 'It's probably the race of the week and he'll go there sort of 20-1, but he loves the track. He could run his absolute guts out and finish fourth.'
