Lope de Vega's Promising Divine Unicorn Captures Tattersalls Cup

Mark Smith - Saturday June 23

The former shuttler Lope de Vega (IRE) has enjoyed a fine run of success of late and he was represented by another stakes-winner at Doomben.

Saturday's Group III Tattersalls Cup hero Divine Unicorn (GB) is one with a different story to tell.

The Mat Dunn-trained gelding was a 110,000 guineas purchase by Magnus Equine at the 2015 Tattersalls October Yearling Sale but a few weeks later he was on the plane to Australia while his future looked to be in Hong Kong.


"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 told AAP.

The 4yo son of Lope de Vega made a winning career debut at Ipswich just over a year ago but was not asked to tackle stakes company until his most recent start when third behind Hopfgarten in the Wayne Wilson Stakes at Doomben on June 9.

With Jim Byrne in the saddle, Divine Unicorn enjoyed the run of the race before driving through between runners to defeat Ipswich Cup winner Tradesman by one and a quarter lengths with Jumbo Prince back in third.

"He has taken some quantum leaps this preparation, Dunn said.

I was nervous about going from 1600m to 2200m with a horse as inexperienced as he is but he proved today that he is a stayer with a massive future.

"Last start he was off the bridle the whole way in a 1600m and Jimmy and I spoke before the race of the need for him to settle to run the trip. He locked him away and gave him every possible chance and hit the lead late like we wanted to.

"I'm not sure where he is going to end up with this horse but certainly what he is doing now it could be anywhere.

"We will access him and see how he is. There is probably not a whole lot about for him now. The Grafton Cup may be an option but I don't know if we have to take that on just yet. We might give him a little break and bring him back for the spring.

Dunn said the aim would be to take Divine Unicorn to Hong Kong for the International series.

"He should get an invitation to run there. I can take him up there and leave him," he said.

With his first stakes win in the bag, Divine Unicorn (GB) advances his record to 4 wins, 1 seconds and 2 thirds from 8 starts with earnings of $214,965.

The 41st stakes-winner for Lope de Vega (IRE) (pictured), Divine Unicorn is a half-brother to the multiple Group III-placed Measuring Time (Dubai Destination out of the stakes-placed Inchberry (Barathea) from the family of the successful stallion Inchinor.

 

Advertisment
More Reading...
Yes Yes Yes Filly wins $100,000 Crystal Slipper
The $100,000 WATC Magic Millions Crystal Slipper (1100m) at Ascot on Saturday drew a competitive field of 13 and Yes Yes Yes filly Yes Queen produced a brilliant performance to score a dominant debut victory.
Better Than Ready's Port Lockroy Triumphs in G1 Railway Stakes
Interstate visitors have a poor winning record in the $1,500,000 Group 1 Swan Draught - Railway Stakes, but Port Lockroy played his part in squaring the ledger when choosing the perfect spot to end a run of bad luck in stakes races.
Sun City Filly to Target Karaka Million
The Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m) has been the goal for Sierra Leone from the moment she was purchased at the Yearling Sales, and she took an important step towards the $1 million feature with a game second in Saturday’s Listed Counties Challenge Stakes (1100m).
Aussie Mare Youngstar Produces Exciting Japanese G3 Winner
Australian Group I winning half-sisters Youngstar and Funstar are both at stud in Japan and the former has a very smart two year-old colt in Eri King, who made it three wins from three starts when taking out the Group III Radio Nikkei Hai Kyoto Nissai Stakes (2000m) on Saturday.
Gringotts Continues Kiwi Winning Run in $1million The Gong
Kiwi bred Gringotts continued his coming-of-age campaign with a powerhouse front-running performance under 60kg to win Saturday’s Group III A$1 million The Illawarra Mercury Gong (1600m) at Kembla Grange.
$2000 Mare Wins Winton Cup
Exciting southern mare The Grey Goose continued her faultless preparation with an impressive performance to win Sunday’s Hyde Landscaping and Wash Rite Winton Cup (1400m) at Ascot Park.
Expensive Xtravagant Wins $1million Meteorite
The highest priced yearling by Xtravagant sold in 2022, progressive sprinter Nadal (Xtravagant) produced an explosive turn of foot to come from near last to win the inaugural running of today’s $1m The Ladbrokes Meteorite at Cranbourne.
New French Stakes-Winner for Churchill
Currently finishing his seventh season of shuttling to Coolmore Australia, Churchill has had a productive year and sired his 16th stakes-winner of 2024 when progressive three year-old filly Some Skye landed the Listed Grand Prix de Fontainebleau (1900m) at Chantilly.
Sires With Winners - Saturday November 23
Here is the full list of 117 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Storyville Downs the Colts in G2 WA Guineas
The WA Champion Fillies Stakes heroine Storyville earned a shot at the Group 1 Northerly Stakes after she gave the colts a start and beating in Saturday’s $500,000 Group II White Claw - WA Guineas (1600m) at Ascot.