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MELBOURNE - Former Hong Kong galloper Lucky Unicorn enhanced his stud value when he landed his first win in Australia with an easy victory in Saturday's A$150,000 ($168,000) Chester Manifold Stakes at Sandown.
The Hong Kong-based Lucky Owners P/L Syndicate sent the Redoute's Choice 4-year-old to trainer Tony
Vasil with the mission of winning a stakes race.
The entire achieved that in the 1400m listed race on the Hillside circuit when given a good ride by Damien Oliver who completed a winning double after earlier scoring on Going Spending for veteran trainer Kel Chapman.
After missing the kick, Lucky Unicorn ($3.90 fav) moved up to fifth with cover before Oliver produced him on the outside where he forged clear to score by two lengths from race leader Our Spur ($14) with Brom Felinity ($7.50) a short neck away third.
"The purpose of coming to Australia was to win a stakes race," Vasil said.
"He's well bred and won three races in Hong Kong.
"He was very unlucky in his first two starts here and last time he missed the start and his chance was gone but he still got home well.
"Damien gave him a great ride today and I'll raise the bar with him now."
Vasil said he didn't have anything specific picked out for Lucky Unicorn but said he doubted whether the horse would run 1600m.
Meanwhile, Tails Of Triomphe will chase major cups in Tasmania and South Australia after ending a 20-month absence from the winner's stall in the Edgewater Meats Hcp (2400m).
The Archway 5-year-old hadn't won since his victory in the group one South Australian Derby (2500m) at Morphettville in May 2005.
The gelding hadn't finished closer than sixth in 11 starts in between the two wins and has now raced 24 times for four wins and three placings.
Prepared by Stawell father and daughter team, Terry and Karina O'Sullivan, Tails Of Triomphe was having his fifth run this preparation and appreciated the step up from 2000m.
"It's taken a while to get him fit and he's obviously a stayer," Terry O'Sullivan said. "He falls out of the barrier which is a bit of a concern."
Tails Of Triomphe ($21) who "missed the kick", according to his rider Brian Park, flashed home down the outside to score by three-quarters of a length from topweight Hofmeister ($4.40 fav).
* The group one Sydney Cup is the likely autumn aim for North Of Havana after jockey Hugh Bowman perfectly executed a pre-race plan to guide the gelding to a narrow victory at Rosehill on Saturday.
The blustery conditions prompted trainer Gai Waterhouse to instruct Bowman to make use of his inside gate and ensure North Of Havana was smothered up in the run.
Bowman did just that, settling the $2.35 favourite fourth behind the speed before edging out into the clear on straightening and chasing down leader Tuareg ($5.50) to win the Nickaz Constructions Hcp (1800m) by a short neck.
"I discussed it with Hugh beforehand and said with the gale force winds, if he could find some cover it would be good," Waterhouse said. "Hugh has ridden him superbly."
Saturday's victory took North Of Havana's record to seven wins from 22 starts and Waterhouse believes he can measure up to some of the better staying races this autumn.
"He could be a Sydney Cup horse," Waterhouse said. "People have always had doubts about him staying but I don't think there are any doubts, he's a natural."
* Lanky apprentice Ryan Plumb, 17, farewelled Brisbane with a lasting memory when he booted home his first metropolitan treble at Eagle Farm on Saturday.
Plumb flies to Singapore today to commence a month's contract riding on loan to former Victorian jockey turned trainer Steven Burridge.
Two of Plumb's winners came at the expense of fellow apprentice Matthew Palmer who was unable to ride after he was involved in a fall at Doomben yesterday.
Plumb replaced Palmer on Centenn and Cool Scene to provide Gold Coast trainer Kaye Tinsley with a winning double and the other leg of the apprentice's treble came aboard Poiym for Eagle Farm trainer Brian Wakefield.
- AAP