Per Incanto's Unicorn Wins Sha Tin Feature

Media Release - Monday July 8

Red-hot jockey Zac Purton had to settle for second in Sunday afternoon's feature at Sha Tin as Classic Unicorn, a son of Little Avondale stallion Per Incanto, made it two from two in the Class 3 Members Cup Handicap (1000m).

Classic Unicorn - HKJCPurton, who was successful in six of the 10 races on the day, had been in the saddle for the three-year-old's debut but handed the reins to Derek Leung when the Chris So-trained gelding was allotted a weight below Purton's minimum. The chestnut sprinted home in 55.09s, a length and a quarter ahead of Purton on Seven Heavens.

"He's a nice horse," So said. "He showed good pace again. I think he'll be better after next season and in future I think he can go 1200 and 1400m but not yet, he's still learning a lot. He doesn't concentrate but when the pressure comes, he kicks.

"A lot of people called me in the last two days because he had lost 40 pounds from his last run but his blood tests were good, he was eating well. You can't take weight as a standard from his first run, he's a baby, so for me, I thought he'd run well.

"Before they sent him to Hong Kong, they told me he won by 12 lengths in a trial," So said. "We knew the horse was impressive, I haven't had a horse like this for a long time."

New Zealand-based bloodstock agent Phill Cataldo was instrumental in identifying the son of Per Incanto for his Hong Kong connections.

Initially sold as a yearling by Little Avondale for $40,000 at the 2017 NZB Select Sale, Classic Unicorn was re-offered at the Ready To Run Sale but failed to meet his reserve.

He then had two trials for Karen Fursdon for a runner-up finish at Cambridge and a dominant win at Avondale.

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"He trialled well when he ran second at Cambridge and when he went to Avondale, he won like an Open class sprinter," Cataldo said.

"He ran time. He's a big athlete, a real machine to look at and he just looks like a top-class sprinter."

Per Incanto recorded a winning double in Hong Kong with the former Danny Walker-trained three-year-old Star Performance making a successful debut for Tony Cruz with victory in a Class 3 1400m contest.

The Little Avondale Stud-based stallion also sired a winner on Sunday in Singapore with Per Inpower successful over 1400m.

A son of Street Cry, Per Incanto has proved a reliable source of winners in all jurisdictions and is the sire of three Group One winners.

His stock are performing particularly well in Hong Kong, with black-type gallopers Morethanlucky and Time To Celebrate joining the likes of Baba Mama, Flying Godspell, Glenealy Generals, Classic Unicorn and Star Performance as winners in the competitive nation. – NZ Racing Desk

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Race Result - The Members Cup (C3) 1000m

Sha Tin Track: Good Time: 0:55.09
1
Classic Unicorn
- 3g Per Incanto (USA) x Grace And Eva (NZ) (Stravinsky (USA))
Tnr: W Y So Rdr: K C Leung 52.5
2
1.3
Seven Heavens
- 5g Frankel (GB) x Heaven Sent (GB) (Pivotal (GB))
Tnr: C Fownes Rdr: Z Purton 60.5
3
2.6
Jing Jing Win
- 6g Starcraft (NZ) x Top Cuban (AUS) (Anabaa (USA))
Tnr: D J Hall Rdr: M F Poon 57
4
4.5
New Asia Sunrise
- 6g Written Tycoon (AUS) x Karedane (AUS) (Danehill Dancer (IRE))
Tnr: Y S Tsui Rdr: Martin Harley 58
5
5.5
Utopia Life
- 3g Wicked Style (USA) x Camphor (AUS) (Tsuimai (AUS))
Tnr: K L Man Rdr: K Teetan 56
6
6.0
Highland Fortune
- 3g Declaration Of War (USA) x Pan Dulce (USA) (Candy Ride (ARG))
Tnr: K W Lui Rdr: N Callan 56
7
7.3
Multimillion
- 4g Tycoon Ruler (AUS) x Get A Life (AUS) (Sequalo (AUS))
Tnr: A S Cruz Rdr: A K Chan 56
8
7.8
Goko
- 5g O'Reilly (NZ) x Miraculous Miss (AUS) (Exceed And Excel (AUS))
Tnr: C H Yip Rdr: H N Wong 52.5
9
8.3
Wayfoong Vinnie
- 7g Elusive City (USA) x Shana Singa (NZ) (Danasinga (AUS))
Tnr: K H Ting Rdr: V Borges 52.5
10
8.5
Lone Eagle
- 4h Zoffany (IRE) x Green Mirage (AUS) (Green Desert (USA))
Tnr: P Yiu Rdr: M Chadwick 60
11
8.8
Hard Promise
- 5g Hard Spun (USA) x Perfect Promise (SAF) (Caesour (USA))
Tnr: T P Yung Rdr: M L Yeung 55
11
8.8
Sharp Style
- 4g Style Vendome (FR) x Sloane De Borepair (FR) (Sevres Rose (IRE))
Tnr: A T Millard Rdr: H T Mo 53.5
13
9.0
Gamechangers
- 6g Canford Cliffs (IRE) x Awjila (GB) (Oasis Dream (GB))
Tnr: J J Size Rdr: J Moreira 60.5
14
10.0
Laos Enlightenment
- 3g Camacho (GB) x Meanwhile (IRE) (Haafhd (GB))
Tnr: J Moore Rdr: A Domeyer 58
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