Harry Eustace is hoping to ride his luck with Sea King for just a couple more days in Australia.
The Englishman headed Down Under to tackle the Cox Plate with Docklands, who had in tow a travelling companion who is now a leading contender for an even bigger prize – the Melbourne Cup.
Sea King booked his spot in the Australia’s greatest race with his win in last Wednesday’s Bendigo Cup and on Saturday night came up with pole position in Tuesday’s $8.5 million event over 3200 metres.
Eustace, the brother of Melbourne Cup-winning trainer David, is shaking his head at how things have transpired for Sea King since landing in Victoria but is hoping they can continue on an upward spiral until just after 3pm Tuesday.
“Since being here, the race has started cutting up one way or another and the more that was happening the more we felt if we ran well at Bendigo we’d get in,” Eustace said.
“To go and see him win like he did at Bendigo suddenly meant we had to really start concentrating on being competitive in the race.
“That’s not to say that we weren’t before, but the plan before we came down was very much Bendigo into the Queen Elizabeth (Stakes) just because we thought on the order of entry we’d be a long way away.
“But, here we are. It’s fantastic, it’s what it’s all about, and we’re just trying to enjoy it all the way to Tuesday.”
Sea King emerged as a key Cup chance with his 3-3/4-length win over Melbourne Cup rival Interpretation at Bendigo, when he started from barrier three.
Declan Bates was aboard for that event, but Hollie Doyle takes over in the 2024 Melbourne Cup and Eustace is happy that he’s had experience starting from a low draw in a big field in Australia.
“We were a bit slow to get into stride at Bendigo and I suspect that would have been the same wherever we were drawn, so at least from one Hollie can just worry about finding a position,” he said.
“I’m sure everyone knows, it’s from halfway that everyone starts riding a race.”
Sea King is a $11 chance in Melbourne Cup odds headed by Vauban ($6) and Buckaroo ($6.50).
