“He took the travelling very well and looks very fresh and well.”

The Eustace name is something of a regular when it comes to Hong Kong racecards, but it will not just be prominent local trainer David who features on Sunday's programme at Sha Tin as elder brother Harry looks to grab a slice of the action with Docklands.  

The now five-year-old son of Massaat provided the Newmarket-based handler with his first Group 1 success when running out a shock winner of the Queen Anne Stakes in June and will be looking to recapture a similar level of form having last been seen finishing ninth in the Jantar Mantar in the Mile Championship in Kyoto on 23 November. 

"He ran his race," said Eustace when asked to assess his latest run. "We were drawn 16 of 18, got too far back, but he came home well. When I looked at the result again, the winner won by a couple of lengths, but we weren't far away from actually being involved with the rest. I think with a better draw, we'd have been among them. So, we're very happy and it was a brilliant experience." 

Docklands could only finish twelfth when taking to the track in the Hong Kong Mile last season, but Eustace believes he has a better horse on his hands to go to war with this time around.  

He said: "Last year was maybe a messy second half of the year for him because we were tilting towards the Cox Plate over 2040m,"  

"He ran well in the Queen Anne, then City Of Troy's Juddmonte International, then the Cox Plate, took on Via Sistina again in the Champion Stakes, then went back to a sharp mile in Hong Kong. 

"I feel this year versus last year, he's obviously a better horse and more consistent and competitive at the top level. 

"I hope it's stood him in good stead for travelling again. If we could get an OK draw, I think he could show up a bit better than he did last year, that's for sure." 

Harry Eustace's charge didn't have as far to travel as many European contenders having made his last appearance in Japan and the handler couldn't be happier with how he took the journey across Asia.   

"He took the travelling very well and looks very fresh and well," he said. 

 "He had his first day on the track last Wednesday, he obviously ran recently, so he's fit and we're really just ticking him over until a week Sunday (14 December).  

"He might have a little leg-stretch this Wednesday or Thursday but that'll be about it." 

Harry might have to wait a little longer to take on his younger sibling on the track in Hong Kong, although David does look set to field a runner of his own on Sunday.  

 "I believe my brother (David) is going to have a runner (Massive Sovereign) in the 2000m race (Hong Kong Cup) - he nearly had a runner in the mile race in which would have been even more fun," said Eustace. 

 "To both be involved in a day like this is just fantastic for the pair of us. And if we can pick up a bit of prize-money, that would be super."