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.

Advertisement

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...
One To Watch – Belmont
We look far and wide to highlight Breednet’s ‘One To Watch’ and today’s winner of the first race at Belmont, 3yo D’Argento filly Ladies Pro, won in the manner of a horse with a nice future and in the process shone a spotlight on her sire who recorded his ninth winner so far this month.
Sires With Winners - Tuesday October 21
Here is the full list of 15 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
G1 Champions Mile Next for Ceolwulf
Trainer Joe Pride will likely keep stable star Ceolwulf to a mile as he looks to round off his spring campaign with a first trip away.
2025 G1 Spring Champion – Pedigree Preview
A lot of attention is paid to the sprinting three year-old division and much less so to the stayers, but with $2million in prizemoney the Group I ATC Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) at Randwick on Saturday has attracted a full field of 14 and all of them are on trial at the trip.
First Win for $2.1million Magic Millions Sale-Topper
It was a full-circle moment for Te Akau Racing at Te Aroha on Wednesday when Avantaggia, the filly that topped the 2024 Magic Millions Yearling Sale, broke through for her maiden win in the Donaghys Moxipor (1150m).
End Of An Era - 2025 G1 Cox Plate
“There are many ways of going forward, but only one way of standing still” - Franklin D Roosevelt.
Inglis Digital - Darby Swoop on Amazing Eagle for $310,000
Scott Darby believes today’s Inglis Digital sale-topper Amazing Eagle (Capitalist) can continue along the same successful mould as the likes of former online Darby acquisitions Robusto, Caballus and Imperial Force and progress on to become a future racetrack star.
Sires With Winners - Wednesday October 22
Here is the full list of 37 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Henry Longfellow Pedigree Gets an Update
Group I winning Dubawi stallion Henry Longfellow (IRE) is covering his first Australian book of mares at Rosemont Stud this spring and overnight in Ireland his two year-old sister-in-blood landed her first Group race win.
NZB Ready to Run Breeze Ups Complete for 2025
The final day of NZB’s 2025 Ready to Run Sale Breeze Ups saw a further 202 two-year-olds gallop down the home straight at Te Rapa Racecourse.