HARRY EUSTACE is hoping Alaroos can grab a piece of the action when she contests the Group 3 William Hill Bronte Cup at York on Saturday.

The Newmarket trainer has been in flying form with five winners in the past fortnight, including a success at Yarmouth on Wednesday. Now he has his sights set on one of forty Knavesmire prize funds of six figures or more in the £102,000 Pattern feature.

A field of nine has been declared.

Alaroos, one of four horses that Eustace currently has under his care for powerful owner Shadwell Estates, was seventh in a Listed contest at Goodwood earlier this month.

But Eustace is optimistic that she’ll be seen to better effect over the longer trip of a mile and three-quarters that she’ll be tackling at York.

In a similar vein, he feels the anticipated quicker ground is likely to be in the four-year-old daughter of Golden Horn’s favour.

Eustace said: “She seems to have come on for Goodwood. We were a little bit underwhelmed, I suppose, there – I thought she’d run a little bit better. But I think a mixture of tempo and the trip on the track just found her out a little bit.

“And we’re hopeful that a mile, six (furlongs) at York will bring out her best attributes. 

“The plan, her having been sent to me, was to try and get ‘black type’ this year, so that’s what we’re looking for. It seemed a good opportunity. I think she’ll like the better ground.

“We’ve a couple of Golden Horns at home and they like quicker ground. So, we’re hopeful that she’ll handle it well.”

Eustace is keen to find a good one for Shadwell as this is the first year the leading owner has sent horses into training with him.

He said: “It would be fantastic. Obviously, it was a big boost to the yard to pick up such a great owner. The two-year-olds are just beginning to come along now and if there could be a nice one in there, it would be a real boost.”

Eustace took the Park Lodge Stables reins from his father James in 2021 and has made a fine start to his own training career. Last year he chalked up 24 winners and already has 11 on the board for the current campaign.

Harry added: “It’s been fantastic and it’s really a reflection of all the hard work everyone’s put in through the winter. We have deliberately targeted saving horses for the turf season and it’s just nice that it’s sort of paying dividends this time of year.” 

Saturday’s seven-race card gets underway at 1.35pm with the William Hill Keep Your Raceday Positive handicap.