Facing the daunting task of building a stable from the ground up in his first season in Hong Kong, David Eustace is committed to a patient approach.
“I did walk into the barn, and there were no horses in there,” Eustace told Idol Horse’s Andrew Le Jeune on the soon-to-be-released first episode of the Idol Horse Podcast. “Then you have one, and clearly, you feel extremely empty when you have just one. So, the barn’s getting full—there are 28 horses now.”
Poised to kick off in Hong Kong with a stable comprising 15 stable transfers, eight Private Purchases (pre-raced prior to import) and five PPGs (un-raced prior to import), Eustace is not aiming to be a ‘fast starter’. Instead, he will adopt a measured strategy to build both his presence and numbers steadily.
“All going well, the first runners will be on the 28th of September,” Eustace says. “A lot of the horses that were transferred did so beyond the end of the season. I gave them a bit of a break. They didn’t need much time off, but they had a brief rest.
“The way the programmes worked out for a couple of them, the races are at the end of September. So I hope I’ll have two or three runners on the 28th, and the first triallers will be on the 3rd of September.”
Eustace’s thoughtfulness and long-term vision for establishing his reputation in Hong Kong are evident in his emphasis on process over specific numbers.
“I think pulling out a figure for winners (for the season) is probably not the way to go,” he says, “But if I can train between 25 and 35 winners, I’d be delighted.
“I haven’t started with a big team, so they’re going to take time to kick in. I’m more hopeful that the horses I’ve selected will do what I hope they do and show that the process works for the owners who have joined the stable.
“I hope this will lead to repeat business and attract those who haven’t joined yet. Obviously, achieving some nice quality winners at the Class Three level with PPs would be great. I’m optimistic that we have horses capable of doing that.”
Unlike other jurisdictions where trainers have a wide range of race options to carefully place their horses for the best winning chance, Hong Kong’s unique sliding scale handicapping and class system necessitates careful consideration when it comes to bloodstock, something that isn’t lost on Eustace.
“I was really keen, with PPs, to buy without going too strong and selecting horses that I believe are rated appropriately or will achieve a rating where they’re better than that.
“At the end of the day, we’re racing in a handicap system, and we need to stay ahead of the handicapper to win, in theory.
“That’s what I focused on—not necessarily buying horses that have performed at a high level in Europe or Australia, which would naturally cost a lot and might not acclimatise well. If I can source two, three, four horses that progress through the grades in my first season, that’d be a great result.”
While most horses in Hong Kong are Southern Hemisphere-bred, Eustace sees potential in sourcing from Europe and other regions, including America. However, identifying the right horses is not as straightforward as it may seem on paper.
Much work goes on behind the scenes, and Eustace depends on trusted contacts to manage this task.
“Having that trust when you’re sourcing horses is crucial, because temperament is such a big factor. As we know, a horse’s behaviour is important when they come to Hong Kong; they need to adapt quickly..
“Being able to tap into honest feedback from trainers and owners who might be selling horses has been a significant advantage for me. I’m certainly very happy with how the horses I’ve settled in have responded to my training methods and style.”
While Eustace’s bloodstock strategy relies heavily on external connections, he isn’t afraid to seek advice from those he will be competing against.
Stalwarts like David Hall, John Size and David Hayes have offered their advice, but Eustace has particularly sought guidance from some of the newest faces on the scene, Jamie Richards and Mark Newnham, due to their similar training styles.
“I think it’d be foolish not to. I’m surrounded by trainers who have been successful here for a long time, and they’ve been very helpful.
“I think the main thing is not to overdo it. That’s evident in track work. The environment can benefit the horses but can be detrimental if you ask too much of them each day. I’ve taken that on board. I wouldn’t class myself as a hard trainer, so I haven’t had to change how I prepare my horses. Picking the brains of those around me has been a focus.”
Another key focus of Eustace’s operation will be form analysis, even though he now deals with only two tracks in Hong Kong compared to the numerous ones his horses raced on in Australia.
He explains that he closely observed the latter part of last season, forming opinions that he will use to select the right jockeys for specific horses and tracks—a process he strongly believes in.
With months of meticulous preparation behind him, Eustace is ready to launch into the new season, stating: “I really hope to be finishing strong. I think, if you look at Mark’s (Newnham) first season, he executed it really well and had a great finish with horses he sourced himself.”
