Promising stayer Divine Unicorn was always expected to end up racing in Hong Kong but it could be even sooner than trainer Matt Dunn anticipated.
Divine Unicorn ($4.40) underlined his class when won the Group Three Tattersall’s Cup (2200m) at his eighth start at Doomben.
Ridden just behind the pace, Divine Unicorn was given the run of the race by jockey Jim Byrne before beating the favourite Tradesman ($2.20) by 1-1/4 lengths.
Divine Unicorn was bought in the United Kingdom by Hong Kong interests and as an experiment was sent to Dunn to be trained in Australia.
“The idea is to race him here first where the climate is closer to Hong Kong’s. They wanted to win a Group race with him and then take him to Hong Kong.”
Dunn said Divine Unicorn could press on to the Grafton Cup in a fortnight but would most likely spell.
“Then we can try a few races in the spring probably around 1600 metres before I can take him up to Hong Kong for the International series,” Dunn said.
“He should get an invitation to run there. I can take him up there and leave him.”
Dunn said any horse which could win a Group Three race at his eighth start when stepping up from 1600m to 2200m was obviously talented.
“It was a bit surprised he could put them away like he did today but he is promising,” Dunn added.
Article from JustHorseRacing.com.au