By Glenn Davis
Promising stayer Divine Unicorn will launch his bid to head overseas for the big Hong Kong international race day at Sha Tin in December when the import makes his comeback at the Sunshine Coast on Saturday.
Divine Unicorn steps out for the first time since claiming the Group 3 Tattersall’s Cup (2200m) at Doomben in June in the Maroochy Surf Club Open Handicap (1400m).
The Tattersall’s Cup was Divine Unicorn’s first start over a middle distance and was a quantum leap after his placing behind Hopfgarten in the Listed Wayne Wilson (1600m) at Doomben two weeks earlier.
Divine Unicorn was bred in Europe with the intention of racing in Hong Kong but his owner, who lives in Hong Kong, decided to campaign him in Australia first to help him acclimatise.
Dunn is pleased with Divine Unicorn following his break and expects the five-year-old to be competitive.
The son of Lope De Vega has an impressive first-up record with two wins and a second from three attempts.
“He had a trial over 1000 metres at the Gold Coast a few weeks ago and he went well behind Big Tree and Tom Melbourne,” Dunn said.
“The trial was good enough for a first-up run over 1400m.”
Divine Unicorn has won four of his eight starts and the only time he missed a place was when he finished fourth in a Highway race at Rosehill in December.
Jim Byrne, who was successful aboard Divine Unicorn in the Tatt’s Cup, retains the ride after making the trip from Brisbane to ride him in his Gold Coast barrier trial.
Dunn has a big opinion of Divine Unicorn and plans to send him to Melbourne for the spring in a bid to improve his rating for Hong Kong.
“He should run well Saturday but he’s proven in the past he doesn’t show his best until he gets up to a distance,” Dunn said.
“After this run he’ll go to Melbourne for a 1600-metre race at Moonee Valley in two weeks.”
Divine Unicorn will then proceed to the Group 3 Naturalism Stakes (2000m) at Caulfield on September 22 and the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes (2000m) at Flemington on October 6.
His main mission is the Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) two weeks later.
All going well he’ll then head overseas for the Group 1 Hong Kong Cup at Sha Tin on December 10.
Racing Queensland webnews August 22