Rising stayer Divine Unicorn will take another step in an unusual experiment when he tackles the Group Three Tattersall’s Cup at Doomben.
Divine Unicorn will be stepping up to 2200 metres on Saturday after his last-start third in the Wayne Wilson Mile at Doomben.
Trainer Matt Dunn admits it is a gamble taking the sharp step up in distance but he believes Divine Unicorn can be a well above-average stayer.
“He is owned in Hong Kong but was bought in the United Kingdom,” Dunn said.
“In the past they have raced horses in the UK and gone straight to Hong Kong. But this is a bit of an experiment to race him here first.
“The weather in Australia is more like Hong Kong than the UK. They can get used to the Hong Kong climate better if they come from Australia.
“So he is racing here and his owners hope to win a stakes race with him before a possible career in Hong Kong.”
Dunn has given Divine Unicorn every chance to mature as the gelding has had only seven starts for three wins and three minor placings.
Divine Unicorn showed his class when he beat handy gallopers Oink and Fit For Purpose at the Gold Coast three starts ago.
“There is a case to say he should have won his next two starts including the Wayne Wilson which was a Listed race,” Dunn said.
“He is like a lot of the breed by Lope De Vega as they seem to get better with age.”
